Retired guide dog gets stuck in a catflap

A petrified dog tried to escape a thunderstorm ... and got jammed in a cat flap. Golden retriever Lucky failed to live up to her name, after desperately trying to flee through the cat-sized door. She was wedged in so tightly firefighters had to cut her free. Owner Maria Siddle got home to discover the dog half inside and half outside the kitchen. Maria, 48, said: “I went to work in the morning and left the dogs out because the weather was nice.

“But then there was a storm. Lucky can’t stand thunder and lightning, so she tried to get inside. The only way was through the cat-flap and she got stuck. There was one very worried head panting away inside the door and one very worried body outside. I put my fingers through to see how much of a gap there was and realised there was no way I was going to get her out.”



Maria, of Weeley Road, Aingers Green, dialled 999 for the fire brigade. Firefighters from Weeley had to use an electric saw to cut retired guide dog Lucky free. Maria, who is a community carer, added: “It must have looked hilarious. There was a dog stuck in a cat flap, one distraught owner holding the dog, one very calm fireman and my other golden retriever sitting there watching it all.” Fortunately, 12-year-old Lucky, who has a heart condition, survived her ordeal unscathed.

“She’s a very lucky little dog,” said Maria. “The firemen were brilliant – they were absolutely wonderful. I offered to pay them, but apparently that’s not allowed, so I’ll make some kind of contribution.” Leading firefighter Steven Ernst said the harder Lucky tried to wriggle though the cat flap, the tighter she became trapped. He added: “We get the odd cow or horse stuck in a ditch, but this was pretty unusual.”