Texas Utility Crews Spend Eight Hours Rescuing Puppy Trapped in Sewer Line
What started as a playful afternoon for a group of puppies in San Antonio turned into an all-day rescue mission when three of them tumbled into a sewer line.
The young dogs had been outside near their home when they somehow slipped into the opening, according to local station KSAT. Firefighters from the San Antonio Fire Department managed to pull two of the puppies to safety, but the third—later named Damsel—was trapped deeper inside.
Unable to reach her, emergency responders called in a specialized team from the San Antonio Water System (SAWS). Equipped with “televising cameras,” the crews began carefully tracking her position through the underground network of pipes.
Video obtained by WOAI showed the tiny, shivering puppy wading through ankle-deep water inside the dark sewer system. In the footage, rescuers can be heard gently coaxing her:
“Come to the light… She’s scared.”
The operation stretched into the night. After nearly eight hours, workers used specialized equipment to nudge Damsel toward an opening where they could safely lift her out. She was finally pulled up to the surface in a bucket, her wet fur clinging to her small frame.
Crews at the scene affectionately nicknamed her Pipa—Spanish for “pipe.” Despite her ordeal, Damsel appeared alert and unharmed, and she was quickly wrapped in blankets and comforted by her rescuers.
The incident served as a reminder of how resourceful—and determined—rescue teams can be when an animal’s life is on the line. For Damsel, it was a long and frightening journey underground, but thanks to hours of teamwork, she’s now safe and back above ground.