Firefighter comforts just-rescued dying dog

The photo posted on the Springfield Fire Company's Facebook page shows firefighter Bob Tracey lying next to an injured dog his crew had just rescued, gently stroking its head.

Buddy, a 12-year-old Gordon Setter mix, escaped his secured yard in the Delaware County township on Monday. His owners searched the area, put notices on online bulletin boards, and called the police, all to no avail.

Buddy had a history of health problems, including hearing and vision loss, one of the posts on Facebook noted.

About 4 p.m. Tuesday, Springfield police received a call from the 100 block of North Hillcrest Road about a dog trapped under a log, said Police Chief Joe Daly. Two officers climbed down a slope into a wooded area behind the home and tried to move the log. It was too heavy, so they called the fire company, he said.

"I jumped down in there," said Tracey, noting that the area was very muddy. "We started moving rocks, leaves and dirt."

Tracey and Daly both said they have no idea how the dog became wedged under the log. They speculated Buddy was trying to seek shelter during Monday's storm and became stuck for at least 24 hours.

Tracey said Buddy was calm during the rescue. Fire crews used a hydraulic ram to lift the log. It took about 20 minutes before they were able to free Buddy. Then they gently placed him on a backboard to administer oxygen.

"I was just scared he was going to die right there in front of me," said Tracey, who lay down next to the dog to comfort it. Buddy was breathing heavily. Tracey gave him oxygen and a small amount of water just to wet his mouth.

"I didn't want to give him too much water because we didn't know the full extent of his injuries," said Tracey, who added that the rescue was a team effort.

Buddy began to perk up after the oxygen, said Tracey.

The crew put him in a Springfield police car and rushed to a Old Marple Animal Hospital, where Daly said Buddy was reunited with his family before he was put down.

"Because of the age, the health and the condition of the dog, they ended up euthanizing it," said Daly.

"I'm glad we were able to help," said Tracey.

Mary Alderfer, Buddy's owner, was touched by the "unbelievable kindness" of all those involved, she said when reached by phone. Volunteers from Delco Dogs were tireless in their efforts to find Buddy and the police and firefighters were kind and comforting, she said.

"It really brought people together," she said. "I was really proud of my community."

Many viewers were touched by the Facebook photo. But this wasn't Tracey's first brush with public praise.

In 2016, Tracey turned in $15,000 in cash he found on an Upper Darby street.