Central Nyack Firefighters Rescue Dog With Paw Caught In Bathtub Drain

After years as Clarkstown's animal control officer, Patricia Coleman has seen a lot. Today, she saw something new as volunteers from the Central Nyack Fire Department were called to rescue a dog which got its paw stuck in a bathtub drain.

The dog, a Terrier mix, was cut free without injury from the drain in a unit at Mountainview Condos in Valley Cottage this afternoon.

Coleman explained that the dog's owner decided to give the pooch a bath after it apparently rolled in deer droppings. While in the tub, the dog got one of its paws stuck in the drain and the owner could not get free the dog.

The dog's owner called Clarkstown police for help, and Coleman and Central Nyack firefighters were sent to the complex on Mountainview Avenue to see what they could do. Central Nyack Fire Chief Michael J. Healy said volunteer firefighters used a saw blade and a chisel to cut open the tub drain by hand, and within a few minutes were able to get the dog out of trouble.

"I've never seen anything like this before," said Coleman. "But it all had a happy ending."

Healy said the rescue was a bit unual for them, too. He noted that members of his department have rescued animals from things such as sewer drains in the street, but never a tub drain in a home. Healy and four other firefighters from Central Nyack's rescue unit responded to the call.

Coleman said the dog stayed calm during the rescue, especially since the firefighters were able to get it free without using noisy power tools.

The lesson from this incident: Coleman says that if you're going to give you dog a good scrubbing in the bathtub, make sure this is a cover or plug for the drain to prevent your pooch from getting stuck or injured.