2012 story: Christmas puppy rescued from well in Dona Ana County

Doa Ana County Animal Control officers, working in conjunction with several other area first responders, rescued a puppy Wednesday afternoon after it became trapped at the bottom of an abandoned 12-foot well.

The first animal control officer arrived in the 5000 block of Holsome Road east of Las Cruces at 11:45 a.m. The puppy’s owner, who adopted the dog as a gift to her children, hadn’t had the dog long enough to give it a name. She told the animal control officer she knew about the well opening, and had barricaded the hole to prevent the puppy from falling inside.

“The puppy’s curiosity got the best of her,” said Animal Control Officer Sunne Lucero, who arrived shortly after to assist the first officer in the rescue.

Lucero said members of the Organ Volunteer Fire Department also assisted in the rescue, as well as the City of Las Cruces Fire Department, who brought a remote-control camera that was dropped down inside the hole to monitor the puppy’s condition.

After four hours and a rigged PVC pipe fitted with a piece of rope, the puppy was pulled to safety.

“It was truly a team effort,” said Lucero. “Some of us had tears of joy in our eyes when we saw the puppy come out of that well, and you could definitely tell she was happy to be back in her owner’s arms.”

Animal Control Officers said the puppy appeared to be in good health and did not need medical attention.

Source: Dona Ana County Animal Control