A blind dog in Arizona has been rescued after she fell into a pool, reports CBS affiliate KENS News. Malone, a 10-year-old English Bulldog, fell into her family’s backyard pool, following which an HVAC worker managed to save her. The incident happened in Queen Creek, where Malone’s owner, Kim Slaughter, was staying at her parents’ house.
Senior dog rescued by serviceman after falling into backyard pool
Malone, who’s believed to be blind in both eyes, was found struggling in the pool by a worker who was fixing the family’s heater. Slaughter’s son’s girlfriend was also near the pool and tried lifting Malone, but the pup was too heavy for her.
“I saw the panic set on her face, and the dog got out of her arms and started floating to the middle of the pool,” Hunter Hitchens, who works with Donley’s Service Center, said.
He said he’d already taken off one jacket, thinking he might have to jump into the pool. Hitchens then went over to the pool’s edge and laid down on his chest. Subsequently, he stretched his arms out to get hold of the pup.
“The dog barely had her nose above the water,” Hitchens shared. “I think she saw me, even though she’s blind. She kind of wiggled her way over to me.” Continuing, he added, “And I grabbed her by the back of the neck.” Hitchens was ultimately able to get hold of Malone and managed to pull her back to safety. Temperatures in the pool were in the 30s.
Slaughter expressed her gratitude to Hitchens for having saved their beloved pup’s life. “I’m just thankful … that he was here,” she said. “That it was somebody who loved pets as much as we do.”
“A lot of people don’t realize how important they are,” she added.
Slaughter and her family have been staying at her parents’ house while their new home is being built. She said they usually don’t let Malone step outside the house without a leash. Furthermore, she added this is the first time the pup fell into the backyard pool.
