Rescue of dog stuck in rabbit warren

An adventurous dog from Wem spent seven hours trapped underground in a rabbit warren before being rescued by firefighters early today.

The unlucky canine was out walking in Northwood with owners after it chased a rabbit and became trapped in the hole.

The mother and daughter walking the dog, a black terrier bitch, called fire crews shortly before 10pm yesterday after the dog went missing, but firefighters were unable to find the dog.

Mark Jenkins, crew manager from Wem fire station, said he advised the dog's owners to go home and return to look for their pet the next day.

The pair returned to the spot this morning – and called firefighters again when they heard their pet barking. They found her shortly before 5am today, stuck under the ground by tree roots, which firefighters cut using handsaws to free the pet.

Mr Jenkins said: "The dog decided to go for a rabbit late last night.

"It was dark and we couldn't hear the dog and it wasn't barking, so we invited the owners to go home.

"The owners called us up this morning because she'd come out, but got stuck behind some tree roots.

"Dogs usually come out within 24 hours and the pair obviously decided to go back as soon as it was sunlight.

"They were so relieved and it was a good end to the story, the dog was absolutely fine."