Not your usual fire call: dog in drain

Dr. Kristin Sham DVM, with Oreo
Animal Surgical Clinic

By Shoreline Fire Lieutenant 
Cameron Stewart

I was called by dispatch via the station phone and asked if we could help someone who had a dog's paw stuck in a bathtub drain. I told dispatch we would go take a look.

When we arrived we had a small 10-15 pound dog that had its back paw stuck in the shower drain.  

Driver Darrel Nahinu and Firefighter Josh Psillos worked to get the dog’s paw unstuck. We quickly realized that this was going to be a lot less work if we could get the dog sedated. I Googled some local vet phone numbers and started calling.

Driver Darrel Nahinu and Firefighter Joshua Psillos
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

After I had been turned down by a few vets I called Shoreline Fire PIO Michelle Pidduck and asked if she could help me work the phones to get someone to help us.

Within 10 minutes she had a vet from the Animal Surgical Clinic on 148th and 15th NE on the way.

In the meantime I knew that Steve Carter (our facilities guy) was at Station 63 doing work. I called him and asked if he could bring tools, and see if we could glean some of his wisdom.

Well, the vet showed up, sedated the dog, and E63 was able to get the drain out of the tub while the dog slept.

Dr. Kristin Shaw and Nurse Jenny Dunn
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

The Vet took the dog to the clinic to make sure that it was going to be ok.

When we asked the vet about the bill, and how we could pay for it, she said it was FREE!!!!

Big thanks to Dr. Kristin Shaw and Nurse Jenny Dunn and a first day student assistant from Munich (not a normal first day!)

They were so caring and willing and would not take a dime. This is not their “normal”, but we tried everything first.

~~~

Oreo's owner, Freddie Mahinan, added "Words can't express how grateful I am, including my 12 year old son. Your work, your heart and efforts need to be known throughout the communities.

"Oreo is doing fine. He's a little loopy from the medication but seems really eager to play.

"I'm pretty sure that Oreo is going to be terrified of baths though!"