St. Petersburg firefighters rescue puppy trapped in drainage pipe

ST. PETERSBURG — Firefighters rescued a puppy trapped in a drainage pipe Monday afternoon.

Gucci, a 3-month-old chow, was reunited with his 8-year-old owner Alissa Davis after firefighters used one of their water hoses — but without the water.

Alissa, her twin sisters and brother were taking a walk near the Childs Park Recreation Center at about noon when Gucci bolted into a 15-inch-wide, 50-foot-long drainage pipe.

"He didn't run away," said the girl. "He just ran in there, playing, and he couldn't find his way out."

The kids spent 30 minutes trying to lure the puppy out, but to no avail. They called 911 around 1:20 p.m.

Firefighters shimmied a water hose into the pipe and filled it with air, "motivating" Gucci to run out the other end, St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue Lt. Joel Granata said. Firefighter Ben Wendell was able to grab the scared puppy and hand him back to his family.

Once reunited, Alissa had other concerns.

"Am I going to be famous?" she asked.