Firefighters performed a daring rescue on the 13th floor of an apartment building after a missing dog was spotted wedged on its exterior.
Dog Missing for Two Days
Elbie, a two-year-old Jack Russell, went missing on Anzac Day after weaving through potted plants and a narrow gap to escape her caged balcony on the 13th floor of Meriton apartments in Dee Why, north Sydney. Her owners, the Dobrin family, shared several missing dog posters to an online community group after turning their apartment upside-down in a desperate search for the pup.
'We started thinking the worst possible thing, maybe she fell off the balcony,' family friend James Tomac told 9News.
Rescue Operation
A neighbour flying a drone outside the building spotted Elbie shortly after 1pm on Monday. The dog was stuck between a window and awning on the opposite side of the high-rise building to her apartment. The discovery prompted a large rescue effort with Fire and Rescue firefighter Joel Spillane tasked with abseiling down the building to where Elbie was lodged. A crowd gathered below held their breath as Mr Spillane attached a lead to Elbie and secured a tarpaulin underneath the edge, in case she fell.
However, the anxiety was lost on Elbie - who just seemed happy to see her rescuers. Mr Spillane spent 20 minutes wiggling Elbie out from the awning before she was finally freed.
'We got him inside, he's drunk heaps of water, they gave him a shower and I'm sure he'll be off to the vet, back tomorrow,' he said. 'We're not sure how long he was there, they mentioned a day or so but we're not sure.'
Happy Reunion
Elbie's owner was relieved to see her returned in good spirits after spending two days without food or water. 'I was over the moon you know, I didn't know if I was going to see her again so, very happy,' owner Jake Dobrin said.
