Officers Rescue Priest’s Puppy Trapped in Drain Pipe

BUTTE, Mont. (AP) — A Butte priest has his puppy back after officers and an animal control officer pulled the shaking animal from the inside of a 30-foot drain pipe that runs under part of the church.

The Montana Standard reports the small black-and-brown animal couldn't be found after Sunday Mass, and the Rev. Patrick Beretta said he initially suspected puppy-nappers had taken the 8-week-old English bull mastiff.

Officers Patrick Fleming and Callie Daly looked for a potential dog thief, but suspected the animal hadn't gone far.

They returned to the church and a flashlight helped them find the puppy, stuck inside the pipe.

An animal control officer used a catch pole to nudge the dog within Fleming's reach so the officer could pull her to safety.