Cooper the dog is no stranger to exploration. Living in a cozy Colorado home, he’s sniffed, pawed, and nosed his way through nearly every room and corner.
But recently, his curiosity led him into uncharted territory — and straight into a tight spot.
While wandering the house one day, Cooper noticed a floor grate covering a vent — and something about it caught his eye.
In true adventurous fashion, he managed to lift the grate and peered into the mysterious space below. To him, it must have seemed like a hidden tunnel begging to be explored.
So, he jumped in.
Unfortunately, Cooper quickly realized this was no magical passageway. It was a narrow stretch of HVAC ducting leading into the home’s crawlspace — and it wasn’t meant for travel, especially not by a full-grown dog.
Before long, Cooper found himself stuck, helpless beneath the house, and probably wondering how things had gone so wrong.
His family, unable to reach him, called the Grand Junction Fire Department for help. A three-person crew responded, ready to rescue the canine explorer from his self-made dilemma.
“When they arrived and looked down the hole to find Cooper, it was a surprising and unexpected sight,” said Captain Charlesworth of the department. “It was a first for the crew.”
Though they’d helped ducklings out of storm drains and puppies from crawlspaces before, this was their first air-duct dog rescue. Still, the firefighters acted quickly and carefully.
“[Our] skilled firefighters acted quickly and safely, rescuing Cooper without a scratch,” the department reported. “We’re happy to say he’s back with his family, wagging his tail like nothing happened.”
Despite the ordeal, Cooper stayed friendly and calm through it all — though it’s safe to say he may think twice next time he spots an open grate.
Here’s hoping this brave pup sticks to more familiar paths from now on.
