A pet named Houdini required some assistance from the local fire station. No, Houdini isn’t a reincarnation of the famous escape artist…or perhaps he is. He’s a small hamster who managed to get out of his cardboard container on the way home from the pet store.
Firefighters Hunter Williard, Mason Richey, Jacob Green, Conner Webb, and Jackson Knoerschild worked alongside Captain Matt Luttrell and Driver-Engineer Ricky Rankin to rescue the little guy and help his owner.
Driver-Engineer Ricky Rankin recalls, “After a training Saturday afternoon, we noticed a young lady walking up to our firehouse. When she explained the assistance she needed, we knew this was going to be quite the mission.
Searching for Houdini was different from most vehicle rescues. This escape artist wasn't interested in our help. I was the first to finally see him after we carefully removed pieces of console trim from around the casing. The moment I reached for him, he bared his teeth and quickly reversed direction. I may or may not have said, ‘Found him, but I'm not grabbing him!’”
Houdini disappeared, but the team was able to locate the little furball again, which is when Firefighter Jacob Green stepped in. Firefighter Green safely caught Houdini and returned him to the box, but not before posing for a photo with their new furry friend.
Driver-Engineer Rankin has some tips for traveling with your pets. “From a firefighter’s perspective, remember that the safety of the driver and other vehicle occupants comes first. Get home safely!
While we're trained to prepare for the unexpected, we weren't prepared for a hamster who had already completed his own vehicle extrication training. Remember, whether you're transporting a large dog or a tiny furry pet, secure the pet before driving. Though, when it comes to Houdini, apparently 'contained' is more of a suggestion than a guarantee.”