County Animal Services rescued a small dog from a Spring Valley storm drain Monday after officers found her trapped and unable to climb out, according to the County News Center.

Animal control officers responded to the 600 block of Felicita Avenue. Officer Myers climbed into the storm drain, used treats to coax the dog close and lifted her to Lt. Raygosa at street level, the county reported.

The dog was taken to the Bonita animal shelter, where staff cleaned and fed her, vaccinated 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.

Later Monday, a woman came to the shelter to report that her dog, Teddy, had been missing for more than 30 days. Shelter staff confirmed the rescued dog was Teddy, and the county said the dog became alert when she saw her owner.

The rescue happened just south of Santee in Spring Valley, but it carries a practical reminder for East County families: fast reporting, neighborhood searches and updated pet identification can make the difference when an animal goes missing. Source: County News Center.