Poodle rescued from storm drain after being missing more than 30 days

SPRING VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) - A white poodle named Teddy was recovering at home with her owner today after San Diego County animal control officers rescued the dog from a storm drain more than a month after she went missing.   

Animal control officers responded at about 10:30 a.m. Monday to the 600 block of Felicita Avenue following a report of a small dog trapped in a storm drain, according to San Diego County Animal Services.   

After spotting the dog inside the storm drain, Officer Britney Myers climbed through an access hole and used treats to coax Teddy toward her before wrapping the poodle in a towel and handing her to Lt. Georgina Raygosa, authorities said.

Teddy was taken to the county's Bonita animal shelter on Sweetwater Road, where staff cleaned and fed her and checked for a microchip.   

"Shelter staff said she appeared underweight, very hungry and had a dirty coat, suggesting she may have been lost for some time,'' officials stated.

A woman arrived at the shelter later that day and reported her dog, Teddy, had been missing for more than 30 days despite searches and numerous posted fliers.  

After shelter officials confirmed Teddy was the woman's missing dog, the two were reunited. The poodle immediately perked up after seeing and hearing her owner, "wagging her tail and howling with joy," according to animal services officials.