Hole swallows dog, but fire captain gets the pup up

Dog rescue
Macy the golden retriever before and after her time in the hole. Photo credit Streator Animal Control

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A fire captain in Illinois is sharing the story of how he helped rescue a dog that went missing for nearly 24 hours.

No one could find Macy the golden retriever after she fell in a hole in Marilla Park on Friday. But then a man walking his dog found the hole the next day.

Streator Fire Capt. Fred McClellan put a ladder in the hole, but Macy wouldn't climb it. He went down and attached “webbing” to the surprisingly calm dog so that she could be hoisted out.

“She was a really nice dog. She actually wanted me to shake hands with her when I went down and put the webbing on her,” McClellan said Tuesday.

McClellan said another firefighter and he were able to pull Macy to safety, even as the hole was starting to collapse under him.

Macy was dirty and cold, but was otherwise OK and is back home.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Streator Animal Control