Rescue of dogs leads to reward

A man who rescued four terriers – after the dogs became stuck underground while trying to flush out foxes – received an award from an animal welfare organisation.

Quarryman Dan Mccann was called in by gamekeeper George Mcalpine who had become alarmed at the number of foxes attacking lambs in Menteith district.

Four terriers, belonging to Capt Ralph Joynson, Altskeith, were called in after the foxes were traced to a cairn near Ballaglinon, on the Callander Road.

The terriers were sent into the cairn to `bolt’ the foxes but as the hours past none of the dogs came out. That was when Mr Mccann, who had great experience of rescuing dogs in that predicament, was called in.

One of the dogs was located on a crevice about 40ft down and helped to the surface but the location of the other three was more difficult to access.

The Observer of July 1929 said Mr Mccann’s early employment as a miner came in useful during the rescue, adding: `Entering the hole in which the dogs had gone, he found it ended in a vertical shaft which was blocked by a flat rock projecting into the shaft.

This was removed by blasting a small part at a time and at last the dogs were seen 12ft further down. Two shepherd’s crooks were tied together, and a snare having been tied to the end, the dogs were soon caught: one by the hind leg and the two by the neck. ”

Mr Mccann was delighted as the dogs when they reached the surface. He had been suspended by a rope and his only light during the rescue operation was a bicycle lamp.

Mrs Mcqueen Ferguson, secretary of the Edinburgh branch of the National Canine Defence League, later presented Mr Mccann with its silver medal in a ceremony in the grounds of Aberfoyle School. Joining him at the presentation was Mr Mcalpine and the four lucky terriers.