Firefighter/paramedic Brian Kukla made the catch of his life when Charlie the tree climbing Poodle went into a free fall from a tree.
Climbing trees isn’t part of the Poodle genetic code, but Charlie had spent many days of his puppyhood climbing a box elder in the Michigan yard of his owner Kim Reeves-Matthews.
After using ladders to rescue him, she finally put wire fencing around the tree several years ago. Figuring he was too mellow at 8 1/2 years-old to climb trees, she wasn’t worried when the fencing was tossed aside during tree trimming.
Until…
he disappeared one day when she and her granddaughter were having lunch in the backyard. They heard a squeak from above and there was Charlie balanced on a branch about 35 feet off the ground.
Animal Control officer Jessica Modrznski arrived at the scene and suggested calling the fire department. While the firefighters were trying to calm everyone down and figure out how to get Charlie down, suddenly he lost his footing and started somersaulting to the ground.
Kukla was matter-of-fact about what he did. “I just happened to be underneath him when he fell,” he said, adding he was watching him and trying to position himself underneath him.
But Reeves-Matthews' account is a little more heroic-sounding: “The fireman, he dives with one hand out, catches Charlie, sticks his arm out so he doesn't land on Charlie, tucks him under his arm like in a football hold.”
Kukla had never rescued a dog or even a cat in his career, but for a firefighter it’s all in a day’s work. He did ask that Charlie be kept out of trees from now on. Source
Charlie will probably stop channeling his inner cat after this embarrassing episode.
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I love the stories you find! Make me smile. Thanks.
Posted by: www. | June 29, 2011 at 09:36 PM
Damn! This poodle must secretly be a cat and he just used up one of his lives :O
Posted by: Karen Friesecke | June 29, 2011 at 11:44 PM
You have the best stories. Bet they put that fence back up. lol
Posted by: threecollie | June 30, 2011 at 04:11 AM
Wow - if that was my dog I would have been completely freaking out! Thank goodness that fire fighter had good coordination!
Sam
Posted by: Sam | June 30, 2011 at 05:08 AM
I didn't know dogs even climbed trees! I live and learn.
Posted by: cube | June 30, 2011 at 06:26 AM
I don't know which is more amazing...a dog climbing 35 feet into a tree or the fire fighters amazing catch!
Thanks for sharing!
Happy, Waggin' Tails, FUREVER!
Stumpy and me
Posted by: Stumpy and cyndi | June 30, 2011 at 06:53 AM
Great story Jan...the only thing better would be the video ;-)
Posted by: Jimmy | June 30, 2011 at 08:53 AM
Amazing poodles! Mine hasn't done any spectacular climbing, but the things she gets off counters, tables and dressers makes me wish I had a video.
Posted by: Lynne | June 30, 2011 at 09:25 AM
Wow. Just wow. So glad this story had a happy ending. But of course you wouldn't have posted it with that headline ;-)
Posted by: Edie | June 30, 2011 at 02:17 PM
So glad that he was there to catch Charlie! HOpe Charlie stays out of trees!
Posted by: Peggy Frezon @Peggy's Pet Place | June 30, 2011 at 03:17 PM
With the title, I wasn't expecting such a little guy! He certainly takes wanting to supervise everything to an entire new level.
Posted by: Sarah | June 30, 2011 at 05:17 PM
it's a bird..it's a plane..no it's 'a poodle?'..
Posted by: jackie | June 30, 2011 at 08:53 PM
Oh my goodness, that's amazing.
Yet another lovely happy ending! :)
Posted by: Tracey | July 01, 2011 at 06:15 AM
Hope my standards don't get any ideas from this story.
Posted by: Denise | July 01, 2011 at 06:49 AM
Amazing story. Dog's will always suprise you.
Posted by: DogMan | August 22, 2011 at 11:37 AM
What makes the Poodle climb that tall? Can't stand not smiling reading this post. Nice catch, Mr Firefighter.
Posted by: Snake Camera | August 24, 2011 at 01:10 AM