Dog rescued from water treatment plant basin by lasso

April 13 (UPI) -- Officials at a California water treatment plant rescued a dog that fell into a football field-size basin at the facility, animal services officials said.

Riverside Department of Animal Services said officers were dispatched about 10 a.m, Wednesday when workers at the Riverside Water Quality Control Plant noticed the female German shepherd mix sitting in about 3 feet of water filling the basin.

The dog was able to keep her head above water while sitting in the basin, but workers waiting for the officers grew concerned when the water level began to rise.

Richard Pallante, a maintenance operations manager, lowered a harnessed mechanical supervisor, Brent Keaster, down the steep embankmen. Keaster set about trying to lasso the canine.

Animal services officer John Hergenreder arrived on the scene and was able to lower a more suitable tool to Keaster, who was then able to use the specially designed lasso to ensnare the dog.

The rescuers said the dog was friendly toward them.

"She realized we were there to help," Keaster said. "We thought she might be aggressive. She was wearing a chrome-studded harness. But she was pretty docile. She was pleased. It was a good day."

Hergenreder took the sewage-soaked canine to the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley, where she was given a bath and treated for an abrasion on her left side.