Dog Buried Alive In Garden

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PENSACOLA, Fla. - Whimpers a man heard while doing yard work turned

out to be a dog buried alive in a neighbor's backyard. Robbie Wilson

said he peaked over his fence and saw the dog's nose poking out of

the ground Sunday, a day after he first heard the cries for help. It

was not known how long the dog was buried.

 

Wilson's fiancee, Melissa Vanderpool, called for help. The responding

animal control officer, Wilson and one of his friends spent more than

a half hour using shovels to carefully dig out the dog.

 

Once out, it walked around and then collapsed. It's being treated at

an animal hospital for dehydration.

 

" The dog was in the ground, " Vanderpool said. " It had dirt all over

it. I don't know how it got there. It seems like every few minutes he

stretched his neck up and could get his nose through the (small)

hole. "

 

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office was investigating it as an

animal cruelty case. Sgt. Mike Ward said no one has been charged and

declined to release information regarding the owner of the property

where the dog was found.

 

Bruce Rova, director of the Escambia County Animal Regulation and

Control, said the dog was expected to recover.

 

" It's pretty severe. I'd compare it to the worse case I've ever

seen. " Rova said. But " it looks like it's going to make it. That is

what I am so happy about. "

 

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