Alex Riggins
The San Diego Union-Tribune
SAN DIEGO — Technical rescue firefighters worked for several hours Thursday night to rescue a family’s pet dog after the large bullmastiff fell down an embankment near the train tracks by Rose Canyon Open Space Park in University City, authorities said.
Bruno’s owners called 911 around 6:10 p.m. to report the dog fell into a large ditch south of where Regents Road dead-ends above the train tracks that run through Rose Canyon Open Space Park, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
A Fire-Rescue Department helicopter was sent to the scene so the crew could determine if they could hoist the dog free using the aircraft, but the crew ultimately recommended not using that type of rescue, firefighting officials reported in an incident summary.
A technical rescue team ultimately set up a system of ropes to hoist the large dog to safety, fire officials said.
Radio dispatches from the scene suggested the crews had to craft a special harness for the bullmastiff, which was estimated to weigh at least 115 pounds.
Just before 8:40 p.m., the rescue team safely hoisted the dog to the top of the ledge, where Bruno was reunited with his owners. The dog appeared to be uninjured, fire officials said.
The San Diego Humane Society tweeted that its humane officers were on standby during the rescue.
“We are very grateful (San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s) technical rescue team was able to pull Bruno to safety,” the agency tweeted.
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