A stray dog that ran away from Fourth of July fireworks is getting a fresh start after being rescued from the bottom of a 15-foot-deep well by firefighters in Kansas City, Kan.

Friends of KCK Animal Services shared the dramatic rescue on Facebook on Sunday, July 5, saying that the dog—now named Brisket—had likely spent his entire life on his own before becoming trapped.

“Imagine being on your own your whole life, and it’s the 4th of July in KCK,” the organization wrote. “It’s dark and loud, and you are running, terrified for your life. You can’t see anything and run straight into a well, falling 15 feet into the dirty water that is mixed with oil and sewage.”

The frightened dog waited in the contaminated water for an unknown amount of time before someone finally heard his cries for help. According to the rescue group, local fire department and police department members responded to the scene to save the dog.

One firefighter later described the heartbreaking moment he first made eye contact with the canine. “When I looked down in the well at him, he looked up at me, and his eyes said I give up,” the firefighter recalled. “But he held on just for a bit longer for them to get him out of that hell.”

After climbing into the well and pulling the exhausted dog to safety, firefighters immediately rewarded him with an unexpected treat. “He was fed brisket as soon as he got out,” the organization wrote, adding that the treat also inspired the dog’s new name.

Firefighters then transported Brisket to Friends of KCK Animal Services, where staff turned their attention to the weary survivor. Brisket received what the shelter affectionately called a “spa day,” which included a bath with Dawn dish soap to remove the oily residue, along with IV fluids, food, and fresh water. The dog then curled up on “fluffy lavender blankets” in the air conditioning and fell into a deep sleep.

“He slept HARD on fluffy lavender blankets in the AC for what we assume [was] the first time in his life he could just relax,” the organization wrote.

The rescue group also thanked the first responders who came to Brisket’s aid. “As always, thank you to the officers that respond QUICKLY and protect the animals in KCK,” the organization wrote. “And a huge thank you to the firefighters that climbed down and saved this sweet boy and brought him to us!!”

While fireworks are a beloved Fourth of July tradition, animal welfare organizations regularly warn that the loud noises can send frightened pets and stray animals running, making the holiday one of the busiest times of the year for lost and injured animals.

Source: People