Susan Wright did not realise her pleasant stroll near Kingholm Quay last Thursday afternoon would end up in a call for help from Scottish Fire and Rescue.
Explaining what happened, Susan, 42, from Dumfries said: “We usually walk in the field and were cutting back up to the car park at The Swan when she suddenly just slid sideways off the path and almost disappeared.”
Susan said: “She was on her lead at that point, but even so I didn’t have time to pull her back.
“How she ended up with her head still out and not her back end, I don’t know.”
Ten-year-old Sabre had ended up wedged at the bottom of a hole, with a small burn below her.
Susan said: “It was a bit stressful, especially trying to keep her still once we knew she couldn’t get herself out.”
And even the help of Susan’s mother, summoned from the car, couldn’t get bring to the dog to freedom.
Susan said: “I thought, ‘Oh no — I’m going to have to phone the police to get the firemen out’.”
Three Scottish Fire and Rescue officers quickly responded, and were able to finally help Sabre from the hole.
And when she was finally out, Susan said: “She ran as far as possible in the opposite direction.
“Then she finally thought to come back and say hello to the firemen.”
There were concerns Sabre might have injured herself, but Susan says apart from some annoyance at being hosed down, her dog is healthy and well.
Susan pays credit to the fire crew who also filled in the hole, but said: “We certainly won’t be looking for any more excitement for a good long while.”
