This past Saturday, a puppy fell into a septic tank and could not get out. Quick-thinking firefighters from the Terrell Volunteer Fire Department arrived on the scene and went into the tank to rescue the pup. They found her at the bottom of the tank, happy to be saved.
The puppy was playing in a yard when it fell into the tank. The firefighters had to develop a creative way to get her out. They rigged up a noose to lift her out and then covered the opening to prevent any of the other animals in the building from entering. The volunteer firefighters were able to free the puppy after about an hour of work.
While the puppy’s owner attempted to rescue him, the animal was about 5 feet down inside a 6-by-10-inch hole. It would take hours for the average person to save a dog from a septic tank. So instead, the fire department was called.
Septic systems are a type of onsite sewage treatment system used in rural areas. These systems use a series of pipes to transport the waste from the house to an underground tank.
A septic tank is typically installed in areas with no municipal sewer service available or where it is not practical to run sewer lines. The septic system collects wastewater from fixtures inside the home. Then, it transports it through a series of pipes to an underground tank, where solids settle out, and bacteria break down liquids into less harmful substances before being released.
Septic systems are underground and difficult to see, posing a significant problem for animals, which often accidentally get into the system and cannot get out. Animals that fall into septic systems can die from suffocation or drowning. Septic tanks also have a lot of bacteria inside them that can be harmful to people and animals.