Crozet firemen receive PETA award

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: May 19, 2008

Volunteer firefighters in Crozet who rescued a 12-year-old dog that had been trapped in a muddy pipe for more than three days will receive an award from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The dog, a mixed-breed named Melody, hid in the drainage pipe during a violent thunderstorm. Her owner, French author and journalist Catherine Hermary-Vieille, believed that her pet for more than a decade was either dead or lost.

On May 12, Vieille heard Melody whimper from inside the mostly underground pipe. She called 911 and firefighters arrived shortly thereafter. They dug a large hole and cut open the pipe with a power saw. An animal control officer used a catch-pole to gently tug the dog out of the pipe.

For the department’s efforts, Crozet Volunteer Fire Chief Charles Barber will be given PETA’s Compassionate Fire Department Award.

“Thanks to the compassion and ingenuity of the Crozet Volunteer Fire Department, Melody’s nightmare had a happy ending and she’s back home with her family,” said PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch in a statement. “Crozet is fortunate to have a public agency that is ready to protect and serve area residents and their beloved four-legged companions.”