Kern County Fire Department rescues dog trapped in 40-foot hole

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — One lucky dog is getting extra pets Monday after getting itself into trouble.

The Kern County Fire Department said rescuers were called to Atolia — a ghost town along Highway 395 in the Mojave Desert, about 80 miles east of Bakersfield — to help an Oregon couple and their dog Elvy who stopped for a rest while they were traveling to San Diego to visit a relative in a hospital.

Will heating bills be higher in California this winter?

Officials said the couple let the dog Elvy out for a walk when Elvy saw a rabbit and gave chase to it. The couple lost sight of the dog and search for more than 90 minutes until they found Elvy in a 40-foot hole.

One set of rescuers was able to reach Elvy, but Elvy was hesitant to go despite some food and water being offered. The department's Urban Search and Rescue team from Ridgecrest was called to get Elvy out.

Eventually Elvy was hoisted up and out of the hole with some scratches.

Officials said the couple planned on taking Elvy to a veterinarian to make sure Elvy was OK.