The dog at the aqueduct, August 2005

These three photos are from a call I met Stacy on at the California Aqueduct section in the Baldy Mesa area West of the Victorville. The California Aqueduct system runs kind of South East and North West across the high desert through this part of Southern California. We both got to the call about the same time and followed the aqueduct security officer West a few miles along the service road to this junction.
We Followed the officer over and then it was "where exactly is the dog stuck in the aqueduct?" "It's right there!" we were told. "Right where?"
Looking closely we could see the red fur and then wondered how in the heck it had gotten where it was! And how would we get it out?


Well, Stacy lying on her stomach was able to just reach the dog with her 'Control Stick' and after getting the dog to back up just enough to get it with the cable noose part of the stick, she got it out and off the girder and up to the walk way.

Turned out that other than being terrified the dog was actually not too bad and Stacy was able to pick up the dog without the control stick and take it to the Apple Valley shelter.


Over the years we got many animals out of unusual situations. The dog with its head stuck in a pipe? Did that, several times with the dogs both dead and alive from the ordeal. Cat's with their heads in cans, jars, bags, none dead this time. A skunk with its head stuck in a jar, a squirrel with its head stuck in a jar, DONE THAT!
Snakes stuck in fences or caught in wiring, done it! Cats ground up in fan belts? Unfortunately, we've done that too. Mainly in apartment parking areas in the winter when cats or kittens would climb into the fan blade housing of the car and stay warm as the engine would cool. Then the car owner would get in to go someplace and the cat would figure to get out until the engine was turned over to start and- too late! All caught up in the fan belts.
As I'd mentioned in an earlier post, this was often where "MacGuyvering" came into play. Dealing with something that no one had before and you might never have to do deal with again!
Tad