OHIO -- An Environmental Studies professor at Ohio University who became trapped inside a well after attempting to rescue a dog Thursday says she does not regret her decision to rappel into the 25-foot deep well.
Firefighters safely pulled Natalie Kruse, 28, and six-year-old dog named Dodge up from the well around noon on Thursday.
Kruse said she was collecting samples at her Athens County property with a colleague and a student when the partially blind terrier schauzer mix, whom she was dog-sitting, fell into the well.
"It was like slow motion. We saw it happen and couldn't stop this poor mostly-blind dog from falling into the well," said Kruse.
Kruse said she immediately grabbed a rope and harness that she uses for rock climbing, and then lowered into the well with the rope around her waist in an attempt to rescue the dog from the 10-feet deep water. After making the decision to save the dog, she said she forgot to consider her exit strategy.
"I pulled the dog out of the water, clipped him to me, but we just couldn't get back out," she said.
Kruse first solicited the help of her colleague, student and neighbors, who tried to pull her and the dog out of the well before they contacted the local fire department.
"I was scared for the dog, but once I was in there, I've worked in underground mines for years and have rocked climed more dangerous things than that," said Kruse, explaniing that she remained calm while trapped in the well.
She said Dodge's owners were relieved to learn that their dog had been safely rescued, and said she will be dog sitting again next week despite Thursday's big fall.
(WOUB - Feb 1, 2013)
