Ketchikan firefighters rescued two dogs on Sunday from a home destroyed in the Aug. 25 landslide. The pets had been trapped in the collapsed home for seven days until a state geologist heard whimpering noises.
A state geologist walking the landslide area on Sunday morning heard whimpering noises from a collapsed home. He called Ketchikan firefighters, who responded and pulled out two dogs from the debris, reuniting them with their owners.
"After an emotional week of recovering from the aftermath of the Third Avenue landslide, Ketchikan - and most specifically, James and Bill Montiver - got some very good news," the city's emergency operations center announced on Sunday.
"During the landslide the Montiver home was pushed 47 feet downhill into the neighbor's home. James was able to make it out of the home on his own and emergency responders rescued Bill, but the dogs (Alani and Cassie) were nowhere to be found at the time."
James, who was saved by a couch, escaped with non-life-threatening injuries, Anchorage TV station KTUU reported. Bill, who was pinned down by a dishwasher, was extricated from underneath his house and had minor injuries.
Despite searching for the Montivers' dogs during the week, responders did not hear or see signs of them.
Early Sunday morning, during another assessment of the slide area, Alaska Department of Transportation geologist Travis Watkins heard whimpering from the collapsed house, Ketchikan officials reported. Emergency responders were sent to the scene.
"The Ketchikan Fire Department crew assessed the house for stability and made a plan for entry. Firefighter/EMT Jason Kynsi was the first to enter, making a path for Firefighter/EMT Crystal Schleiff to continue toward the dogs as the openings became smaller," the announcement explained.
"The path was precarious and the process was long, due to the collapse of structure. Schleiff gained access to the location where the dogs were located and was able to retrieve the first dog" and passed her off to a firefighter. Another firefighter then retrieved the second dog.
"I was elated when I saw the dog's eye's shining back at me!" Schleiff said.
Firefighters took Cassie and Alani to Island Veterinary Clinic, where Dr. Jolene Pflaum was waiting for their arrival.
"We are humbled and blessed that Cassie and Alani have been returned to us, and our family is together again. We are so thankful to the first responders and to everyone who has helped us this week," James Montiver said.
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