He could have fallen at any moment. On Wednesday 11th June 2025, in the town of Tarbes in France, a distressed dog was rescued from a precarious situation thanks to the swift intervention of firefighters.
The animal had clearly been left alone for several days in a flat on the third floor of a building on Georges-Clémenceau Street. He had managed to escape through an open window...only to find himself trapped on the roof.
Passersby raise the alarm
The Belgian Shepherd Tervueren was desperately trying to keep his balance on the tiles, but seemed to be running out of strength. In footage shared by La Dépêche du Midi, he could be seen slipping slightly before taking refuge against a chimney stack.
It was passersby, alerted by his barking and distressed state, who called for help. Once on scene, firefighters deployed their ladder truck. Through calm and precise manoeuvring, they managed to get close enough to the animal to place him in a transport crate and bring him safely back down to ground level.
A new chance at happiness
Immediately after the rescue, the dog was taken to the RSPCA shelter in Tarbes, where he was examined by a vet. According to the shelter, speaking to La Dépêche du Midi, the dog was desperately thirsty when he arrived. Initial investigations of the flat painted a grim picture: the interior was covered in excrement, showing he had been locked inside for some time.
The Tarbes RSPCA has already announced it will be pressing charges. Thanks to the vigilance of passersby and the intervention of emergency services, this dog's life was saved. He can now hope for a second chance, far from loneliness and danger.
