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Riverside County Animal Services
A German shepherd's head is stuck in an 18-inch-thick wall in Desert Hot Springs, Calif.
In what might be the most pathetic photo on the Internet today, an 8-month-old German shepherd named Rebel somehow got his head stuck in a hole in an 18-inch-thick wall on Monday afternoon in Desert Hot Springs, Calif. Rebel's owner wasn't home, but a friend called Riverside County Animal Services after hearing the pup's whimpers and whines.
Riverside County Animal Services
Rebel sits with Officer James Huffman of Riverside County Animal Services after being freed from the wall.
Luckily, the pooch wasn't in any serious danger and could breathe OK, officers determined when they arrived at 12:30 p.m. (But we're sad to say that, yes, that red stuff in the photo above is blood; Rebel injured his "eyebrows" a bit while thrashing around as he tried to free himself.)
It would be too risky to break down the wall, so the two officers helped Rebel wiggle his way out. “Somehow he got in through there, so we knew we could get him out,” said Sgt. James Huffman. One officer gently pushed the dog's head back through the hole (after Huffman protected the animal's ears by tucking them back), while the other cautiously pulled and nudged his body.
“He let us know if we were pushing too hard – but he kept working right along with us,” Huffman said in a statement. “He helped a lot. You could see his hind legs stiffen to assist in the direction we were going. He knew we were there to save him.”
Thirty minutes later, Rebel was free, and was released to his owner's friend who'd called for help. Huffman suggested that the dog should be kept away from the wall, lest Rebel was tempted to stick his head in there again -- the officer thinks a squirrel chase or sheer curiosity might have lured him in there -- and said he would talk to the property owner about covering the hole with chicken wire.
"We'll be telling them to 'Close it up,'" said RCAS spokesman John Welsh, or face a $119 fine for an unleashed pet.
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What a beautiful dog. His owner should be taking better care of him.
I don't think it was the owner's fault.
Actually, the dog seems to be well cared for and well socialized. The fact the the dog, in an obviously stressful situation, calmly let the rescuers help him get free shows that his owner is doing a good job. From the article, it sounds like the property owner has some repair work to do on the hole in the wall. Puppies are naturally curious and but are not the best at gauging distances or the size of their own bodies. I have seen many a puppy (and kitten too) get into a tight spot that they could not get out of. It is great news that the puppy came through the ordeal basically unhurt, except for a few scratches.
I stopped to rescue a kitten from a busy road. He jumped up under the car and got by the motor. I had to call a mechanic (who called for a tow truck) so we could get him out. As I was taking him to the veterinarian, he crawled up behind the radio in the dash and we had to remove part of the dash to retrieve him.
I adopted him and after we had a service call from an AC company, I missed him. I laid down by a vent and called and he answered! Later that week he disappeared again and it turned out that a neighbor stole him.
I named him Newman-Marcus and the silly thing lived with us for 12 years. We all adored him and put up with him. Our family still laughs about his kittencapades.
Poor guy! Glad he's ok! This is what happens when puppies get curious! Time to patch up that hole!
yes! I am also glad is is alright, such a cutie:)
 Hahha- that face- "Oh crap.... what have I done?" Bless his heart. he just wanted to see what was going on.
I am so happy he is okay. They need to change his name to Goofball.
Ohhhh, the trouble that puppers pursue! Glad Rebel got an assist. Good boy.
$119 fine for an unleashed pet? Isn't a multi-ton wall enough leash for animal services? Based on the pictures and behavioral description, he's obviously a well-cared for animal who's been given lots of attention. There are many animals who would not be this friendly with strangers in such a tight situation. I'm sure the owners would have taken care of the problem without the lecture and threat of a fine, and would never have guessed that a small hole in the wall would jeopardize the safety of their puppy.
I agree. This was an accident. Throwing a threat of a fine for an unleashed animal is abuse of power. What IS cruel is leashing a large dog in an enclosed yard which is what animal control wants.
Just a stupid comment by animal control.
There are enough animals out there that are abused and tortured maybe they should do their jobs and go focus on threatening their owners.
Although a fine may seem like a harsh threat, the dog's circumstances took animal control away from other jobs. It is in keeping that they threaten a fine if the hole is not closed. Nowhere did they say they wanted the dog chained up - just not able to get stuck again. It is the right thing to do.
Sorry, W. Goin, but your comment that "the dog's circumstances took animal control away from other jobs" is ludicrous. Just what to you think animal control is supposed to be doing...dougnuts and listening to a scanner?
These guys were doing their jobs. Also I don't believe the fine was a threat so much as information for the owner...and probably something they are trained to tell people just to inform them.
Glad to see the pup was well after his ordeal. For all their smarts, when a German Shepard is a puppy, I guess he or she is just like all the other kids on the block (wall).
What "other jobs"? This is one of animal controls' "other jobs". Just like regular cops - they aren't assigned to only certain tasks.
Technically that is correct however they did threaten with a leash law violation which means a physical restraint such as a leash, rope, chain, etc. Leash laws are supposed to be used while off the owners property. While in a fenced yard or dog run there is not a requirement for a "leash". This officer has his head up his nether end if he thinks he could actually enforce that leash law "violation".
Talk about abuse of authority - thinking that citizens should fear idiots like him just be has a position of authority and that he could possibly cite the owners.
Most men can't stay away from a hole in the wall. Why would anyone expect a male dog to?
That's the BEST comment of all!! Too bad mens' heads don't get stuck. Thanks for the smile. (I am very glad the pup os okay.)
There have been times when I would have done the same thing to get away from the yelping b!tches.
you mean most kids don't you..
I'm with ya Matt, great story and then it has to end with some bonehead from the city threatening a fine.
What a sweetheart of a dog! I'm so glad he got the help he needed. I'm sure his human will fix that hole asap. He does look well cared for and I'm sure his human had no idea that beautiful dog could/would do such a thing. Thank you to the neighbor who heard his cry for help and came to the rescue.
The point of the threat of a fine wasn't to say the dog couldn't be in the yard. It was to get the owner to close up the hole so the dog (or something else) wouldn't get stuck again. It costs to come get him out, he could be injured, and with his head stuck out he is unleashed and able to bite anyone who might try to help or choose to be cruel to him. He is a danger to himself and others stuck like that, poor dog:(
All they have to do is close the hole and there was no fine imposed this time. Hopefully they will just close it up, the dog is fine, and everyone will be happy:)
go animal control - issuing fines when no one in their right mind would have imagined the dog could get into such a situation to begin with. Stop harassing people who are taking care of their pets.
Poor little puppy. I wonder what he would say if he could talk.
Maybe, "What was I thinking?"
LOL! Or, "It looked all good when I first got there"
Ow?
The owner can't be fined because the dog was obviously kept on a leash/in his own yard. so well infact upon trying to escape the dog trapped himself in the fence. The Animal control officer is an Idiot.
#1 You dont fix brick and mortar with chicken wire.
#2 You cant fine someone when they didn't break the law.
He got his 15 min. of fame and he wanted to look good. Unfortunately his arrogance means everyone will only think of him as an ignorant fool.
If you look closely you will notice his nametag says "Barnard Fife".
"That's right Andy. I keep my one bullet right here in my left shirt pocket. Or was it left in my right shirt pocket?"
please chill.
Lucky dog ! Most often in Riverside they shoot first and question later.
Officers complain of the recent escalation in violence against authority, maybe they ought open their eyes to what goes on in the world outside of crime, and stop treating everyone like a criminal.
Great looking dog, good ending.
good ending
:)
What a dope!!!! I'm glad he was ok, this is the stuff of dogs!!
Awwww! He is SO cute - SO happy he's ok!!!
Damn. Where is my machete!?
tsk tsk tsk
he must have thought it was a glory hole!
glad he's ok
ANOTHER GREAT SAVE, poor Rebel. I'll bet he was frantic. But thank God for the friend and the two Officers, he's safe now.
I'm glad he's OK and I agree with Matt - this is what we pay Animal Control officers to do and in CA they are paid very well and can retire at age 50 with full benefits and up to 90% of their highest salary for the rest of their lives! To threaten a fine? You've got to be kidding! Once again, these fines are to pay salaries and benefits and keep the well-oiled bureaucratic machine going, and have nothing whatsoever to do with mitigating an "offense." I used to be an avid supporter of law enforcement, but no more thanks to this kind of arrogant attitude that the public is subservient to them, and if you don't get in line, they will fine you and harrass you because they are law enforcement and they can.
Cute pup, glad he was OK. As a German Shepherd owner, I can say that if this is the worst thing Rebel gets into, he's a lucky dog!
Suze, I will agree with you! As the proud owner of three German Shepherd Dogs, I can tell you they may be smart as all get out but not always as a puppy. My oldest girl, Tasha, who left for the Bridge this past May looks much like Rebel and she got her head stuck twice in the fence at the back of the yard. Her excuse was always she was "talking" to the heron who was bugging her or she was watching the geese or something. I miss her and her antics...the three that are still with me have pulled some amazing stunts at times but none quite as goofy as hers!
Since 1987, we have had three German Shepherds. All three were females and all three were always getting into these type of situations. We take very good care of our pets. Unfortunately, German Shepherds are a very smart breed and easily bored. Consequently, they are curious about their environment and get themselves in many predicaments that a less inquisitive dog would find themselves in.