Though the future looked bleak for a black poodle stuck at the bottom of a 20-foot sewage drain, not only has he been rescued by Palm Springs Police and Fire Departments, but his days alone and on the street are over.
The hapless pooch lacked both tags and microchips that could reunite him with any potential owner; however, he received medical attention and is now at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter with anticipation of brighter days ahead in a "fur-ever" home.
"We hope this rescue leads to another rescue, to a happy home!" Palm Springs Police Department (PSPD) said in a Jan. 18 Facebook post.
The Facebook account said the Palm Springs Police and Fire Departments joined forces to rescue the dog trapped in the drain at the abandoned Palm Springs Country Club off North Whitewater Drive. The rescue effort depended on teamwork between PSPD animal control officers Jean-Marie Keough and Stephanie Anderson and members of the Palm Springs Fire Department.
During the rescue last week, a ladder was extended to the base of the drain and the poodle was carried up to safety by a member of the rescue team. Plenty of loving arms greeted the potentially frightened dog, contrasting with the experience that landed him in the pit.
PSPD said the poodle fell down the drain after kids in the area were chasing him in the area of the former country club.
According to The Palm Springs Post, the city of Palm Springs approved transforming the old country club into housing back in 2016, only to be faced with major delays. Developers had failed to build a single home by June 2022. The Palm Springs Post reported that in September 2021, elected city officials allowed the developer to delay moving forward, and in exchange, the city received a $500,000 payment from the developer.