A San Diego family got the happy ending they had been desperately hoping for after their missing dog, Teddy, was discovered trapped inside a storm drain.
The small dog was found in Spring Valley on Aug. 10 after officers spotted her deep inside the drain. Teddy was dirty, badly matted and clearly frightened, but rescuers refused to give up on her.
Several officers worked together to coax the nervous pup toward safety, using plenty of treats to gain her trust before carefully lifting her out.
The rescue was no easy task, but the effort paid off.
Teddy had apparently been missing for quite some time, and her condition showed just how rough life on the streets had been.
Officials said she was underweight, extremely hungry and covered in a filthy, tangled coat.
It is not believed Teddy spent the entire time trapped in the storm drain, but exactly where she had been before officers found her remains unclear.
Once she was safely out, Teddy was taken to the Bonita Animal Shelter, where staff gave her food, cleaned her up, vaccinated her and checked her for a microchip.
Then, just hours later, came the moment everyone had been hoping for.
A woman arrived at the shelter searching for her missing dog.
The dog was Teddy.
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Shelter workers said Teddy had initially been quiet and withdrawn after her ordeal. But the second she saw her owner, everything changed.
She suddenly perked up, began wagging her tail and howled with excitement.
There was little doubt that Teddy knew exactly who had walked through the door.
Her owner was reportedly overwhelmed with gratitude and thanked shelter workers and rescuers for helping bring Teddy home safely.
After surviving an unknown amount of time away from her family, going hungry and eventually becoming trapped underground, Teddy finally ended her frightening adventure exactly where she belonged — back with the people who had been searching for her.