Blind Dog Rescued From Hole At SoCal Construction Site

PASADENA, CA — Firefighters rescued a 13-year-old blind dog that fell into a 15-foot hole dug near a trench at a construction site in Southern California, authorities said.

The dog, "Cesar," lives next to the Pasadena construction area with his owner Mary, who declined to give her last name to KABC-TV.

Around 7 p.m. Tuesday, Cesar fell into the hole after wandering onto the site. The hole was about 15 feet deep and 3 feet wide. After Cesar fell, Mary was alerted by the barking of her other dog. She could hear Cesar barking from somewhere faraway.

"He's an old dog," she told KABC-TV. "But he's still very curious and adventurous."

A Pasadena search and rescue team responded after Mary contacted the foreman of the site, who called the Pasadena Fire Department.

Arriving first responders assessed the situation after discovering Cesar in the hole. Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin said confined-space rescues present unique challenges for firefighters.

"There's a lot of steps we need to do to make it as safe as possible. For not just the dog but also our rescuers," Augustin said.

The team hooked up a series of ropes and pulleys to lower one team member into the hole. It took the team 13 minutes to reach Cesar, secure him in a harness and pull him all the way out of the hole.

Cesar appeared to be healthy and uninjured after he was retrieved from the hole. He shook off a heavy coat of construction dirt and dust and was reunited with his owner at the scene.