Firemen rescue 8 Labrador pups from a drain – only to discover they’re not dogs

Animal rescues can be tough, and sometimes things aren’t exactly what they seem. When animals get stuck in tight spots, it’s crucial to act quickly but carefully. In many cases, the heroes that step in are firefighters, always ready to lend a hand when lives, even animal lives, are at risk.

In 2018, Fire Captain Brian Vaughan responded to a distress call about eight tiny creatures trapped in a drain well. The callers assumed these animals were abandoned black Labrador puppies. Within 20 minutes of their arrival, the firefighters had safely pulled all the animals out of the drain and rushed them to the Humane Rescue Organization in Pikes Peak.

However, what initially seemed like a routine puppy rescue took an unexpected turn. Once the animals were checked, a vet revealed that they were not dogs at all – they were fox cubs. “One of the vets at the place said: ‘No, these are not labradors, they’re foxes,’” Vaughan told CBS Denver.

Foxes are quite common in the Rocky Mountains, where the cubs had been found. Travis Sauder, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife District Manager, wasn’t surprised by the discovery. He explained that it’s not unusual for people to come across baby animals during springtime when many species give birth in small dens close to human activity.

Sauder emphasized that the best course of action for these cubs was to return them to where they were found in hopes that their mother would return to care for them. “If the mom’s not around anymore we can take them to a licensed re-hab,” he said.

These firefighters in rescued what they thought were puppies from a storm drain… but it turns out they’re red foxes!
What to do now?
Reporter @AbeytaCBS4 shares the story: https://t.co/ubpMJjjj8h
(📹: Colorado Springs Fire Department) pic.twitter.com/Mksg0A0IJH

— CBSColorado (@CBSNewsColorado) March 16, 2018

This story serves as an important reminder: before intervening with what seems like an animal in need, it’s always best to consult an expert. Sometimes, what looks like a rescue could unintentionally cause more harm to wildlife.