Ann Arbor firefighters rescue dog that fell into a manhole

by Art Aisner | The Ann Arbor News

Thursday February 26, 2009, 2:39 PM

Ann Arbor firefighters rescued a dog that fell down an uncovered manhole on the on the city's west side Wednesday and said the manhole appeared to be booby-trapped.

Firefighters were called to the nature area behind Haisley Elementary School at about noon on a report of a dog that fell into the manhole while the owner was walking the dog, Battalion Chief Robert Vogel said.

The owner said the hole was covered in leaves and brush, and the manhole cover was hidden nearby, Vogel said.

Firefighters Robert Tudor, Craig Sidelinger and Lt. Mark Edman lowered a ladder into the 8-foot-deep hole and pulled the 4-year-old Labrador Retriever out. The dog wasn't injured.

Vogel said the city's water department welded the cover to the hole to ensure it wouldn't happen again.