What's Happening in Chandler, AZ…

A number of city and state agencies got involved in a rescue in Chandler recently.

It took the city’s utility company, fire department, Southwest Gas, and the Arizona Public Service Electric Company to rescue a curious dog named Rubin. The canine had got himself in trouble by chasing a cat that jumped into a hole. The hole, unfortunately, was five feet deep, and had been dug by a tortoise.

The animals are all members of Toby Passmore’s family, with the tortoise being of the African-spurred species and going by the name of Scully. These tortoises can live up to 150 years, and weigh more than 200lb. They are native to the Sahara, and dig burrows to reach moisture and find shade from the sun. At times, they construct networks of tunnels.

When the Passmores could not find Rubin, they began to worry, then heard barking that seemed to be coming from underground. They realized what had happened fairly quickly, but they could not get the dog out. Passmore started digging with his hands, afraid Rubin would run out of air. Soon after that, he called for help.

It took about four hours in total for the responders to get Rubin back above ground. The cat emerged later, on his own.

Occasions like this, which had a happy ending, can be a great opportunity for people to use to create fun Holiday Cards.

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