Dramatic rescue of Taz the dog by Kansas firefighters

Some of the most compelling news stories are not about politicians, celebrities or criminals.

Travis Heying, a photojournalist in Wichita, Kansas, captured a dramatic rescue of Taz, a dog who had fallen into a swollen river.

It all started when John Huy, 79, a retired aviation engineer, took a walk in the rain with Taz, a 6-year-old 100-pound mutt, described as “part pit, part lab, and part I-don’t-know-what.”

Spooked by lightning, Taz jumped into a creek and became trapped by the rising waters. Huy and a bystander jumped in to rescue him, but Taz was trapped by the rising river waters under a concrete embankment in a small air pocket.

The fire department was called. Expecting to rescue humans from the creek with scuba equipment, they immediately began trying to rescue the frantic dog.

Just when it looked like Taz had disappeared forever, a dog nose was spotted under the concrete.

Rescuers used power saws to cut a hole in the concrete to pull out the trapped Taz.

Eight fire trucks, police to direct traffic, scuba gear, sledge hammers, concrete saws and around 20 trained rescue firefighters--all to rescue a dog.

You just know there is going to be criticism of the waste of tax dollars.

But fire Captain Wells and his men understand.

“...we understand that pets are very, very important to people’s lives,” he said. “We’re glad to be here. It’s been a good day.”

The story

Comments

[Jeanette]

I'm sure there are people who hate to see taxes spent this way, but I feel very sorry for them.

[Jodi]

I'd much rather my taxes spent this way then paying for some a-hole to spend their worthless life in prison.

[jackie]

worth every penny.

[Peggy Frezon @Peggy's Pet Place]

So glad they were able to make the rescue.

[cheri hoffer]

We can choose to step back and collect the successes that our emergency personnel have, at saving humans in complex situations. The learning and improvement in skills from EVERY complex rescue they coordinate, successfully or unsuccessfully is put to bear on the next, and so on. Some departments spend big bucks simulating such rescues so they're prepared when they are called for real-life crises. No such rescues are a waste of money. It may be your dog, or your brother, your favorite teacher or your mother they save next. Or it may be you.

[dog foood]

Rescue of Taz is the living proof that is still the man's bestfriend.

[susan pagan]

that old man was stupid to let his dog off the leash.