Teddy the white poodle is recovering at home with her owner Thursday after county animal services officers rescued her from a storm drain in Spring Valley — more than a month after she first went missing.
Animal control officers responded at about 10:30 a.m. Monday to the 600 block of Felicita Avenue after getting a report of a small dog trapped in a storm drain. They found the dog in too deep and unable to escape her predicament.
After seeing the cornered canine peering up from inside the grimy pipe, one of the officers climbed down an access hole into the storm drain, used some treats to coax Teddy toward her, then swaddled the skittish creature in a towel and handed her up to a colleague.
Teddy was brought to the Bonita animal shelter on Sweetwater Road where staff cleaned her up, fed her and scanned her to see if she had been microchipped.
“Shelter staff said she appeared underweight, very hungry and had a dirty coat, suggesting she may have been lost for some time,” the county said.
A woman arrived later in the day and reported her dog Teddy had been missing for more than 30 day, despite ongoing searches and numerous posted fliers.
After confirming that Teddy was indeed her lost dog, the two were reunited and the poodle immediately perked up when she saw and heard her master and started “wagging her tail and howling with joy,” officials said.
Her owner expressed deep gratitude for Teddy’s safe return and thanked staff for their help.
“County Animal Services promotes the humane and responsible care of pets in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County,” a statement from the county said.
“The department provides 24-hour animal rescues, supports residents who can no longer care for their pets, investigates and stops animal neglect and cruelty, enforces state and local laws, and educates the public about animal welfare, restraint and licensing.”
