Social media and Moe to the rescue of dog in Shipley Glen (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Social media and Moe to the rescue of dog in Shipley Glen

8:00am Saturday 5th January 2013 in News By Telegraph & Argus

A dog which was trapped down a hole for 53 hours owes his life to social networking, according to his owner and rescuers.

Zak, an 18-month-old golden labrador, went missing while out on a New Year’s Day walk around Shipley Glen. He was rescued on Thursday night by firefighters after another dog found him in a wet, 6ft deep hole in rocks.

Although expected to make a full recovery, the vet that treated him says Zak would not have survived another night.

His rescue was a community effort, but those involved said that it was social networking that Zak owes his life to. Shortly after he went missing, photos were uploaded to Baildon Veterinary Centre’s page. Soon word of the missing dog spread, and details included on thousands of web pages.

So many followed his story that during the rescue dozens of people turned out to help the moorland search.

Craig Pennington, whose partner works at the vets, was searching on Thursday when his border collie Moe started barking around a seemingly innocuous patch of heather. After looking closer, Mr Pennington found Zak trapped underneath in a hole. He called the fire service, and a specialist team spent hours breaking through rock to rescue him. The rescue operation took seven hours.

Owners Andrew and Susan Eastell, of Baildon, said Zak is exhausted but recovering well.

Mr Eastell said: “He was freezing and his joints were all swollen because he had to stand for 53 hours. He is exhausted and sleeping a lot now, but he will make a full recovery.”

Vet Janice Slater said: “His temperature was 96 when he was rescued, it should be 102. He was hypothermic and had very low blood sugar.”

“Moe was really the hero of the hour for finding him.”

Mr Pennington, who lives on a farm in Skipton, said: “Moe just stopped and was looking at the ground and I said, ‘what have you found?’ I also have to say the fire service were brilliant. They were the heroes.”