Dog gone … and back again

By Brian McNeill

Published: May 12, 2008

A dog was rescued Monday morning after spending more than three days stuck inside a muddy drainage pipe in Crozet.

Melody, a 12-year-old mixed breed, apparently hid inside the underground metal pipe Friday evening during a violent thunderstorm.

“Oh, I cannot believe it,” said Melody’s owner, French journalist and historic novelist Catherine Hermary-Vieille. “Day after day, we were trying to accept the fact that she was lost or dead. I am so relieved that she is alive.”

At around 10 a.m. Monday, Vieille was out walking across the front yard of her historic estate off Shelton Mill Road when she heard a faint whimper. She looked around and discovered that Melody had squeezed herself into the pipe via an exposed opening.

At first, Vieille — who writes for the French newspaper Le Figaro and has authored several books about historical figures — tried to coax her pet out of the pipe, but Melody was too weak and stuck in the wet red mud.Vieille called 911 and eight firefighters from the Crozet Volunteer Fire Department and an Albemarle County animal control officer arrived.

Over the next hour, the firefighters dug a large hole to expose the pipe and cut it open with a power saw. Melody could be seen cowering about four feet inside.

“Come on out, sweetheart,” urged fire Capt. Will Schmertzler.

At the other end of the pipe, Vieille lay on her stomach and peered inside, cooing encouragement.

“I can see her. She’s shaking so much,” Vieille fretted. “She’s so afraid. I can understand. We would be shaking too if we were in her place.”

Animal Control Officer Kim Maddox slid a catch-pole deep into the pipe and looped its lasso around Melody’s neck and tugged the dog out. Vieille cried with joy.

Melody’s legs and underbelly were caked with mud and she was unable to stand, as her hind legs were cramped. She was also trembling and noticeably weak, having had nothing to eat and only muddy water to drink.

Maddox said she expects the dog to recover, though she may need IV fluids to treat dehydration.

“She’s just a little weak right now,” said Maddox, as she toweled off the dog. “I think she’ll be OK.”

Vieille ran inside and grabbed a few cookies and a baggie of hamburger meat, which Melody wolfed down.

“Ooh, that’s good,” Vieille said. “She likes the hamburger. That is a good sign.”

Schmertzler patted the exhausted dog’s head. “How you doing, Melody? It’s OK. You’ve been traumatized, haven’t you, sweetheart?”

Firefighter Lewis Barnette said the crew was happy to help.

“We do what we have to do,” he said. “We like endings like this.”

Incidentally, Melody’s three-day ordeal inside a drainage pipe was not the first time the dog has made the newspapers. On more than one occasion, French media have published publicity photos of Vieille with Melody and her other dog, Caesar.

“Melody is a star,” Vieille said. “She is so sweet.”

Now that Melody is safe, Vieille said her dog can expect some extra treats.

“I’m going to give her a big piece of ham and lots of little cookies,” she said.