Bravo! Puppies stuck in tar drum rescued by animal lovers, Pune Fire Brigade after hours of effort

Fire brigade officials said by the time they reached the spot; locals had brought the drum down from the hillock in a tractor. The puppies were found to be stuck in thick tar. The fire brigade team used a circular saw machine to cut open the drum.

Firefighter Ravi Bartakke, who was part of the rescue team, said: “We used small tools and oil to take the puppies out slowly and intricately. It took more than an hour for us to free them from the viscous material. Animal rescue experts were guiding and helping us throughout the effort. The puppies were then handed over to animal rescuers.”

Anand Adsul of Wild Animals and Snakes Protection Society, the group whose volunteers were part of the effort, said: “The two puppies could be rescued unhurt. We have sent them to an organisation that has expert veterinarians and treats rescued animals. We have been told that they are in good health.”

While animal rescue is not one of the main mandates of civic firefighting agencies, firefighters often attend calls for rescuing birds, domestic animals, and stray animals. The firefighters also take help from animal rescue experts, forest department officials, and veterinarians in case of such calls. Some fire brigade units in Maharashtra have also undergone basic training modules in animal rescue operations in the recent past.