Animal News: Dog Rescued From Tar Pit, UK Tightens Laws, Passes Mandate For Microchips On All Canines

Two recent “feel good” stories about pets remind the world how dogs and companion animals are integral parts of human living. One involves a gutsy animal rescue story, the other about a bold governmental intervention.

Recently, a father and son received praises for their heroic act of saving an animal from what would have been her early death. It’s an account of two Good Samaritans being in the right place and at the right time.

On what seemed like a typical day, the two unexpectedly discovered a dog that was unable to escape after falling into a tar pit. Nimbly, the two took it upon themselves to save the hapless animal, according to Life With Dogs.

The event occurred near the Chilean city of Antofagasta, where Johnny Alquinta and his son, Johnny Carrizo, overheard the terrifying cries of the canine. After investigating, the two discovered the animal in a tar pit trying to keep her head above the black, murky liquid.

Abandoned Dog In Tar Pit Is Rescued. https://t.co/tHEi9GR4kM

— marianne wolf (@appelplus6) June 4, 2016

According to the duo’s family, freeing the dog from her liquid prison was not an easy undertaking. Carrizo’s aunt, Rosmary Carrizo, spoke about the ordeal and animal rescue.

“At first they were scared, but when she lifted her little head up, they quickly went to help her. It was a huge effort, but they finally got her out of the pit.”

After rescuing the dog, the father and son rushed her to a veterinary clinic, where she was cleaned and examined. Surprisingly, the dog had not sustained any injuries or wounds of any kind, according to a hospital physician.

“We managed to get the asphalt out of most of her fur. She has eaten and drunk a bit and is slowly getting better. Now we will do a blood test to see if her organs have been affected.”

By day’s end, the dog was safe. The family that took part in the rescue decided to adopt her. Supposedly, the dog’s dilemma was the result of her previous owner abandoning her there; it was not an accident.

However, the noble family hopes to be a lot kinder to the animal than her former owner.

In the United Kingdom, it is estimated that nearly two million dogs are at risk of getting lost with little hope of returning to their owners.

Furthermore, this also costs the UK’s government a substantial amount of money on animal services. As a solution, Parliament officials implemented a law in April that requires dog owners to “chip” their dogs.

Dog microchipping becomes compulsory across UK #doglovers #lovedogs #mansbestfriend https://t.co/OkEXrQNX6v pic.twitter.com/aJp8BU9CpR

— Dog Lovers United (@dogloveunited) June 11, 2016

Ironically, the new law does not apply to cats. As a result, animal advocate groups are encouraging lawmakers to include a mandate for felines to be microchipped.

“Many cats enjoy spending hours or even days exploring their territory, but cars and other animals can easily spook them. The result could see them hiding or running away and ending up lost miles away from home.

“Outdoor cats even like to find a warm place to shelter and sleep, like someone’s shed or garage, and end up getting accidentally locked in and trapped, sometimes for days.

“Not only do microchips help prevent theft and ownership disputes, they significantly increase the chances of owners and their lost cats being happily reunited.”

Animal microchips are considered old technology, but many pets — particularly those purchased from breeders or online — harbor a microchip. However, if the dog was obtained at a local SPCA or another shelter, it was likely chipped before reaching its forever home.

Sadly, many dogs without chips are not returned to their owners. While social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, have helped many families find their lost pets, this is not a guaranteed result, and many animals remain lost forever.

However, the United Kingdom is trying to lessen the amount of animals lost due to a lack of microchips by making it a requirement that people chip their dogs. The rules are very clear on the matter: The chipping of animals will be the responsibility of the owner, and will result in a small payment/fine on their part.

Furthermore, the owner is required to keep up-to-date information on the chip. Violation of these rules will result in a penalty of $712. Over time, this law is estimated to save animal services and shelters roughly $81 million per year.

[Photo via ShutterStock/Christin Lola]