Overview
- Neighbors reported barking from a storm drain on a Spring Valley street, prompting San Diego County Animal Services to open a manhole and locate the trapped dog.
- An officer was lowered into the drain using safety straps, coaxed the dog with treats and was helped by a colleague to hoist her to safety.
- Staff at the Bonita Animal Shelter cleaned, fed and vaccinated the dog and checked for a microchip, noting she appeared underweight and very hungry.
- Shelter intake staff later confirmed the animal was Teddy, a family pet missing for about a month, and reunited her with her owners the same day.
- The case highlights how neighbor reporting, routine shelter intake procedures and microchipping aid reunions and shows standard confined-space rescue and post-rescue medical care in practice.