Firefighters Use Vacuum Cleaner To Rescue Puppy Trapped In Well

December 30, 2008 7:17 p.m. EST

Plum Borough, PA (AHN) - Firefighters in Plum Borough, Pennsylvania have rescued a puppy that fell into an abandoned well over the weekend by pulling it through a pipe using a vacuum cleaner.

The firefighters decided to use the household appliance when they could not get Benny Palombo's Shih Tzu puppy from the well after three hours.

"Eventually, we hooked up an industrial-strength vacuum and sized it down to about one inch. We caught on to one of the dog's legs and got it out. It was a miracle," said Assistant Fire Chief Jim Scuffle, according to WPXI TV.

The puppy named Romeo was not breathing when it came out of the well but was revived through mouth to snout resuscitation while being transported to the veterinary clinic, said Scuffle.

The puppy was a Christmas present to the Palombos.