Dog trapped in Keelung drainage ditch rescued with ladder; hind legs paralyzed

A dog was found trapped in a drainage ditch several meters deep on Zhonghe Road in Keelung City today. After setting up a double-section ladder to rescue and soothe the frightened dog, it was successfully placed into a capture net, pulled ashore, and sent to a pet bank (shelter). Initial examinations revealed that its hind legs were paralyzed. Students discovered the dog trapped in the ditch this morning and immediately reported it to people nearby. Democratic Progressive Party Keelung City Councilor Shih Wei-cheng and staff from the Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office arrived at the scene after receiving the report. The group first tried to use a rope and net to rescue the dog, and a helpful citizen provided a ladder, but the rescue failed because the ladder was not long enough. Everyone then borrowed a double-section ladder from the fire department. Shih's assistant, Lai Ting-chang, quickly changed into long rubber boots and carefully stepped down the aluminum ladder into the murky ditch. At this time, the dog was covered in silt and huddled quietly in a corner. Animal protection staff beside the bridge lowered a capture net tied with a rope. Lai softly soothed the dog, saying, 'Go in, we are saving you, don't move.' The dog seemed to understand the intention and cooperated by entering the net. The animal protection staff carefully pulled the rope to bring the net to the road surface. The frightened dog was soaking wet and covered in mud, constantly whimpering, but citizens gently comforted it and helped wash it. Chen Bo-ting, director of the Animal Protection Office, pointed out that after the dog was sent to the pet bank, an initial examination showed it was a mixed-breed old female dog weighing about 10 kilograms, with paralyzed hind legs. Its mental state was acceptable, and a veterinarian was scheduled to perform a detailed physical examination tomorrow. Shih said in an interview that the fence around this drainage ditch on Zhonghe Road is partially damaged, warning that 'if a dog fell today, it could be a person tomorrow,' and called on the Keelung City Government to regularly inspect safety measures around drainage ditches.