A JACK Russell pup owes his life to his quick-thinking Co Wicklow owner who gave him the kiss of life after he fell into a pond.
“I was looking for a home for him but now he’s part of the family – I’m tied to him,” said owner John Greene following the “mouth-to-snout” rescue of eight-week-old Nutty.
And this shaggy dog story has an added animal element – the alarm was raised when Mr Greene heard the nine chickens he keeps in his backyard making a commotion in their coop.
This prompted the unemployed landscaper to look out the upstairs window of his Greystones home, from where he saw Nutty drowning in the pond in the backyard.
“I ran downstairs, straight out into the yard and grabbed him by the back of the leg and pulled him out. I brought him into the house and laid him on the counter. There was no movement whatsoever. . . The dog’s tongue had gone blue and his eyes were wide open.”
Mr Greene began pumping the pup’s chest and giving him “mouth-to-snout”. Although the dog was motionless, he had a faint heartbeat, which Mr Greene says kept him going.
“I was just thinking I’d do my best – he’s a little treasure.”
After about 20 breaths the dog let out “a small little yelp”, although he was still barely able to move. Mr Greene then took Nutty to Greystones Veterinary Hospital, where Colin Rohu examined him.
The vet said yesterday that the dog was saved by his owner’s quick action. “The owner acted very quickly and snatched him out of the pool, gave him mouth-to-mouth and got some scratches in the process. Fair play to him – it took very fast action and quick thinking.”
Mr Rohu said the pup had fluid on the lungs, for which he was given diuretics, and was put in an oxygen tent to reinfuse oxygen to the tissues. He had since made a good recovery.
It is thought the pup fell into the pool having watched his mother drinking from it. “A pup wouldn’t be too good a swimmer at that age,” Mr Rohu said, adding that at eight weeks the Jack Russell would still be unsure on his feet.
Nutty, who Mr Greene said was named for his personality, was shook by his experience which occurred last week, but has now made a full recovery – much to the chagrin of the chickens who effectively saved the pup’s life by alerting Nutty’s owner to his plight.
“Now he’s back to himself and chasing after the chickens again the whole time,” said Mr Greene.