Trapped puppy rescued from abandoned Fresno well

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- A puppy that fell into an old well casing in Fresno has been rescued by firefighters.

The Fresno Bee reports that Fresno Fire Department spokesman Pete Martinez said the puppy -- which appeared to be a shepherd mix and only a few months old -- fell about 50 feet down an uncovered metal pipe about eight inches in diameter within a garage in southeast Fresno.

It took fire crews about an hour to pull the puppy to safety on Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters lowered a knotted rope into the hole and looped it around the puppy's legs and torso and pulled him to safety.

He was not harmed.

Martinez said the dog, whose name is Timmy, was stuck in the hole for a few hours, possibly since at late Tuesday morning, when the dog's family first heard him crying.

The pipe has since been covered.