Hilarious moment spaniel is rescued after getting stuck on the ROOF of a house
Mischievous mutt managed to escape through a window while his dog-sitter wasn't looking
A STUNNED family's pet spaniel must have been barking up the wrong tree when it got stuck on the ROOF of their house while they were on holiday.
The mischievous mutt, who is "always desperate for attention", managed to climb out of a skylight after escaping the attention of its dog-sitter.
Welsh Springer Spaniel Millie was saved by firefighters and a local animal centre after she sat patiently on the roof for two hours.
When her owner Julia Wright, who had been holidaying in Spain with her four children, returned to the home in Hollywood, Birmingham, her phone was bombarded with photos of the rescue effort.
Julia, 49, said: "We had gone away to Spain for a week and left the dog with a dog-sitter.
Related Stories
"When the plane landed and we switched our phones on we had tonnes of pictures of the dog on the roof.
"I thought it was photoshopped!
"We couldn't believe what was happening.
"Millie is always desperate for attention but even we couldn't believe what she'd gone up to.
"She's happily none the worse for her ordeal."
The family converted their loft in in their five bed house in 2003 and installed the Velux window to double as a fire escape.
As a result the window has an easy-open latch, which the dog was able to use to gain access to the roof.
Julia said: "She's such a needy dog and she loves attention.
"The dog-sitter had popped out and she was probably feeling lonely.
"The neighbour heard her barking at the window and then all of a sudden the bark changed into a worried whine.
When the plane landed and we switched our phones on we had tonnes of pictures of the dog on the roof. I thought it was photoshopped!
Julia tells of the moment she arrived back at Birmingham Airport
"That's when she went to investigate and discovered Millie standing on the roof."
The neighbour quickly called Julie's son Andy, who was at work and had keys to the house.
Julia said: "When Andy arrived Millie got really excited and looked like she was going to jump.
"Andy just had to throw the keys down and disappear around the corner."
By this time a large crowd had gathered in the residential street to offer advice and help
Concerned that someone might injure themselves trying to get the dog down, the neighbour called Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, while another onlooker phoned the Wythall Animal Sanctuary for help.
The sanctuary's manager Alison Cookson, 44, said: "When we got the call at about 11 am to say there was a dog stuck on a roof. It's one of the stranger calls we've had!"
"We grabbed all our own ladders, leads, toys, and doggy treats. Anything we could think of that might help tempt her down.
"We got there after the fire service and it just looked like a farce!
"They were standing underneath the roof with a tarpaulin and a single mattress was on the ground and I just thought 'Oh my God'!
"It really was a comedy scene. I just wanted to get up the ladder myself."
It took several minutes for Alison and the firefighters to realise they had access to keys for the house and could get up to the loft.
Alison said: "As soon as I realised we could get in I grabbed the catching pole and went inside.
"I was hanging out of the window as far as I could trying to slip the noose around the dog while a fireman was at the top of a ladder, holding her and making sure she did not fall.
"It was surreal and it just looked daft."
About 30 minutes after Alison arrived they managed to get Millie back through the window.
She had been on the roof for two hours.
Alison said: ";"She was dehydrated and tired, but fortunately that was all.
"When we brought her down we had a long drink, and soon after she was well again and loving all the attention."
Julia said: "It was obviously a shock to hear about it but thankfully she's alright.
"She just loves being with people and I'm scared to leave her on her own now.
"My daughter is getting married in a couple of weeks and I think I'm going to have to take the dog to the wedding!
"Maybe we'll have to write another last minute invitation."