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Dogged Trapped In Sofa! Dial 999!Thursday, December 4, 2008www.harrowobserver.co.uk |
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On December 4th 2008 Elaine Okyere, a
reporter for the Harrow Observer wrote:
They say you can find the funniest things down the back of the sofa. That was certainly the case for the fire fighters who helped free a dog after she became trapped in a recliner.
More than 30 minutes were spent trying to cut pet Starlla out of the three-seater after she managed to get her paw trapped in between the footrest and chair at a house in Hampden Road on November 25.
The dogs owner Stella Minards said: "I had just come back from shopping and had settled down with a cup of tea when Starlla jumped up on the chair for a cuddle.
"She is quite small and her foot just went straight through the metal.
"She was screaming and I tried to get her out. I was on my own and I realised there was no way I could do anything."
Mrs Minards raced to her brother-in-law Collin's house a few doors down the road to try and get help, but when he arrived they realised it would take more to free the German Shepherd - so they called the fire brigade.
The family feared the lack of circulation to Starlla's leg might mean she would have to lose the limb.
The three-year-old is a valuable member of the Minards family and Stella's husband Martyn and 16-year-old son Kyle were both worried about the fate of their beloved dog.
After using bolt croppers and tools usually reserved for breaking through steel shutters, the dog was released unhurt, but the sofa was less fortunate.
Mrs Minards said: "It was destroyed, but I don't care about the sofa.
"I was crying and crying. I really felt like I was going to lose her.
"I'm so angry at the sofa company, I dread to think what would have happened if it was a child's arm or leg that gor stuck."
The family are now trying to find a way to show their gratitude to the firefighters who saved Starlla's life.
Mrs Minards said: "I can't thank the fire brigade enough. I am going to get them a massive crate of larger to say thank-you, as if it hadn't been for the fire brigade I don't know what I would have done."
Watch manager Paul Simpson, from Harrow fire brigade said: In my 18 years I have never seen a dog trapped in the mechanism of a recliner. It was very unusual.
"It took quite a thought process to get the dog out and keep her calm, but she was as good as gold."
Elaine Okyere elaineokyere@trinitysouth.co.uk
They say you can find the funniest things down the back of the sofa. That was certainly the case for the fire fighters who helped free a dog after she became trapped in a recliner.
More than 30 minutes were spent trying to cut pet Starlla out of the three-seater after she managed to get her paw trapped in between the footrest and chair at a house in Hampden Road on November 25.
The dogs owner Stella Minards said: "I had just come back from shopping and had settled down with a cup of tea when Starlla jumped up on the chair for a cuddle.
"She is quite small and her foot just went straight through the metal.
"She was screaming and I tried to get her out. I was on my own and I realised there was no way I could do anything."
Mrs Minards raced to her brother-in-law Collin's house a few doors down the road to try and get help, but when he arrived they realised it would take more to free the German Shepherd - so they called the fire brigade.
The family feared the lack of circulation to Starlla's leg might mean she would have to lose the limb.
The three-year-old is a valuable member of the Minards family and Stella's husband Martyn and 16-year-old son Kyle were both worried about the fate of their beloved dog.
After using bolt croppers and tools usually reserved for breaking through steel shutters, the dog was released unhurt, but the sofa was less fortunate.
Mrs Minards said: "It was destroyed, but I don't care about the sofa.
"I was crying and crying. I really felt like I was going to lose her.
"I'm so angry at the sofa company, I dread to think what would have happened if it was a child's arm or leg that gor stuck."
The family are now trying to find a way to show their gratitude to the firefighters who saved Starlla's life.
Mrs Minards said: "I can't thank the fire brigade enough. I am going to get them a massive crate of larger to say thank-you, as if it hadn't been for the fire brigade I don't know what I would have done."
Watch manager Paul Simpson, from Harrow fire brigade said: In my 18 years I have never seen a dog trapped in the mechanism of a recliner. It was very unusual.
"It took quite a thought process to get the dog out and keep her calm, but she was as good as gold."
Elaine Okyere elaineokyere@trinitysouth.co.uk