Suffolk Police Rescue Pooch That Fell Into 16-Foot Abandoned Dry Well
KINGS PARK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Suffolk County Police pulled a dog from an old abandoned dry well in Kings Park Tuesday night.
Poofa, a 6-year-old Goldendoodle, pulled away from his owner Boris Avezov outside of Superior Ice Rink to chase a rabbit, police said.
"He saw a rabbit and started chasing him. Usually he comes back right away, but this time I was calling him and couldn't find him," Avezov told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.
Poofa then fell into an abandoned 16-foot dry well behind the rink where Avezoz's son practices hockey. The two-foot wide shaft was covered only by overgrown weeds.
"I really wanted to jump myself into that hole and rescue him," Avezov said.
It took six officers about three hours to rescue the 100-pound dog.
Emergency Service Section officers Tom Russo, Mike Cocia and Lance Prager were lowered in and modified a "sked," which ordinarily is used to rescue people, to save the dog.
Officers Glen Baillaragom, Gerry Sheridan and Mike Simpson also took part in the rescue, Suffolk Police said.
"First, we monitored air quality, before sending anyone down, we put them on ropes," Sheridan told CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff.
"The footing was not sound," Baillaragom said.
Before the officers could bring Poofa up, they had to calm him and coax him into a vertical position.
"We were able to assess the dog. The dog was doing great, very, very compliant and very, very helpful in allowing us to go ahead and put a muzzle on him," Prager said.
Two and a half hours later, Poofa emerged wagging his tail with kisses for his new best friends.
"They are very brave people, and they are very concerned and smart people," Avezov said.
Superior Ice Rink is working to immediately cap or fill the open well, which they believe was abandoned decades ago.
