Warren County Firefighters make heroic rescue

WARREN COUNTY, Miss. (VDN) — Warren County firefighters made a heroic rescue of a 170-pound English Mastiff, named Dolly, from deep mud along the Big Black River on Monday evening after the dog became stuck in the muddy banks of the river in south Warren County.

Lacy Allen, of New Orleans, was traveling through Warren County after attending her grandfather’s funeral in Arkansas. With her were her three dogs: Dolly, a 10-year-old English Mastiff; Georgia, a mixed breed; and Mr. Dog, the newest addition to her pack.

Allen stopped near the Big Black River to let the dogs stretch their legs when Dolly ran toward the water and became trapped in deep mud.

The Rescue

Allen, who is eight months pregnant with her first child, tried to free Dolly but was unable to move the large dog. After several minutes, she called 911. Warren County Sheriff’s Deputy Johnny Beauchamp was dispatched and, en route, contacted Warren County Fire Coordinator Jerry Briggs for assistance.

Briggs called on firefighters Zachary Hearn, Neal Pryor, Jonah Masterson and Jeremiah O’Neal.

“I requested Capt. Hearn because of his knowledge of ropes,” Briggs said.

When firefighters arrived, they found both Allen and Dolly stuck in the mud.

“She was up to her waist in water and mud, and so was the dog,” Hearn said. “Initially, all I saw was the dog’s head sticking up out of the mud.”

Hearn and Pryor used a Stokes basket and a backboard to distribute their weight as they worked to free Dolly.

“We were able to get a rope and a piece of webbing under the dog and break the suction,” Hearn said. “It was basically like quicksand, but we managed to pull her out.”

After the ordeal, an exhausted and shivering Dolly struggled to climb back up the hill. Firefighters helped load her into Allen’s vehicle and took her to the Lee Road Fire Station to recover.

After speaking with the Vicksburg Daily News, Allen and the firefighters bathed Dolly to remove the thick mud.

“I am incredibly thankful to these guys,” said Allen.