With just a glance, you can tell how exhausted and hopeless she was. Lying there on the narrow ledge, looking down into the murky water below, she must have thought that there was no way out and that this was the end of her story.

Deep, uncovered wells can be found throughout rural India, and each one is a hazard to the terrified animals who can tumble into them and become trapped, unable to get themselves out no matter how hard they try. Many will die from injuries sustained during their perilous fall or slowly succumb to starvation or dehydration. Time is of the essence in a well rescue, and this dog’s story was no exception.

Someone called Animal Rahat to report that a dog had fallen 30 feet down a well and landed on the ledge above a further 50-foot fall. There was a wall around the well, but dogs jump over the walls sometimes, not realizing that there’s a drop on the other side, or they jump onto the top of the wall and then lose their balance, perhaps as stones crumble beneath their feet.

An Animal Rahat team rushed to the scene, and soon a trained rescuer rappelled down to the ledge and tried very carefully to gain the dog’s trust. But she was very fearful and kept dodging attempts to catch her by hand. The narrow ledge left little room for error, so the rescuers changed tactics and used food to entice the hungry girl into a carrier. Once she was securely inside, the team pulled her out of the well.

The veterinarian’s examination found that she was, miraculously, uninjured, but she was dehydrated and weak. Animal Rahat staff gave her food and water and allowed her to rest overnight. The next day, they spayed her, vaccinated her against rabies, and groomed her before she was released back into her village after a good meal.

Watch the entire rescue: