Dog that got trapped in a hole with a FOX is rescued in elaborate 12-hour operation using listening devices and cameras
A dog has been rescued from a rabbit warren where he was trapped for 12 hours with a fox.
They were rescued in Lavant, Chichester, on Wednesday evening after the dog's owner spent several hours trying to coax him out of the hole.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service's Technical Rescue Unit found Max the Jack Russell with the aid of cameras and listening devices.
Max the Jack Russell was rescued after he was stuck with a fox for twelve hours in a rabbit hole in Lavant, Chichester
Max was 'a little thirsty' but was otherwise unharmed after being trapped for so long with the fox
While digging him out of the hole, the team also stumbled across the fox stuck in with him.
TRU crew commander Charlie Eastwell said: 'We began to dig around the network of tunnels towards where we had seen Max and the fox.
'Just as we broke through into the tunnel, Max poked his head out through, and with some encouragement from his owner, out he came.'
Ms Eastwell said the fox ran into the night after Max was safely reunited with his owner with 'no lasting damage'.
TRU crew commander Charlie Eastwell said the fox ran into the night after Max was safely reunited with his owner
She said: 'Just as we broke through into the tunnel, Max poked his head out through, and with some encouragement from his owner, out he came'
Max was 'a little thirsty' but was otherwise unharmed after being trapped.
She said: 'It was almost three in the morning by the time we had packed up and left the scene, but we would much rather that people called us for help if their pets end up trapped in a situation like this.
'Not only do we not want people to put themselves at risk trying to rescue their pets, but we have equipment – like listening devices and cameras – that allow us to locate the animal with minimal disruption and destruction to the network of tunnels.
'We were all delighted to see Max reunited with his owner, but we think that both he and the fox have learned their lesson and won't be exploring any rabbit warrens together in future.'