Check out our latest products
Elderly Dog Rescued from Sinkhole in Highland Park
A tense and emotional rescue unfolded in Highland Park, Michigan, when an elderly shepherd mix found herself trapped in a sinkhole created by a collapsing sidewalk. The incident took place near Oakland Avenue and Ferrand Park on Friday, and it quickly drew the attention of city workers, animal control officers, and eventually the dog’s worried owner.
The ordeal began when crews from the city’s Water Department arrived in the neighborhood to perform routine repair work. As they secured the area, workers suddenly heard distressed cries echoing from below. Following the sound, they discovered that a dog had fallen into a hole beneath the broken sidewalk. Concerned for her safety but also aware of the unstable conditions, the workers immediately called the police for assistance.
Highland Park Animal Control Officer David Wilborn, accompanied by a trainee from Redford Township, was dispatched to the scene. Even with years of experience responding to animal emergencies, Wilborn later admitted that this was the first time he had ever encountered a dog trapped in a sinkhole. The situation was delicate. The ground around the sidewalk was weak and threatened to collapse further, so rescuers had to carefully assess how to reach the animal without endangering themselves or making the situation worse.
“I didn’t know how deep he was, or how deep the hole was. Of course, we didn’t want it to be dangerous for us,” Wilborn explained. After a quick evaluation, the officers realized that while the sinkhole appeared unstable, the dog was not buried too far down. Working cautiously, they managed to reach into the gap, secure hold of the frightened shepherd mix, and gently lift her to safety.
The dog trembled as she emerged from the hole, clearly shaken but miraculously unharmed. Her rescue couldn’t have come a moment too soon, as the fragile ground might have shifted further had she remained trapped. Within minutes of her recovery, the dog’s owner arrived at the scene. Overcome with relief, she rushed to embrace her beloved pet.
Through tears, she explained to officers that her dog was nearly 15 years old and had been adopted as a rescue many years ago. The shepherd mix had wandered away from home earlier that day after construction workers had temporarily removed part of the family’s fence to access water lines. The open gap gave the elderly dog just enough space to slip out, setting the stage for her dangerous misadventure.
Thankfully, the story ended in joy rather than tragedy. Thanks to the quick action of the Water Department crews and the dedication of local animal control officers, a senior dog was spared from serious injury. For her grateful owner, the reunion was a powerful reminder of how fragile life can be and how important it is to keep a close watch on beloved pets, especially near active construction zones.
Click the video below to watch the full story:
This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartDogs team.
![[5G & 2.4G] 2K Indoor Security Camera for Home Security, AI Voice Change for 2-Way Talk, Motion Detection, Night Vision, 24/7 SD Recording/Cloud Storage, WiFi Home Camera, Pet Cam with Phone App](https://i3.wp.com/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61I2U+sTT3L._AC_SL1500_.jpg?w=300&resize=300,300&ssl=1)
