Dog rescued after surviving three years in a Chinese mine shaft

A dog trapped for three years in an underground mine shaft in Yantai, China, has been rescued after a challenging operation. The animal survived thanks to food provided by locals, but its long ordeal left it with visible health issues.

The rescue effort began after volunteers tried but failed to reach the dog. Professional rescuers eventually stepped in, securing the animal with a metal pole before lifting it to the surface wrapped in a blanket. The operation was more complex than most similar rescues, which typically take between two to five days—far less than the dog's three-year confinement.

During its time underground, the dog relied on food lowered by sympathetic residents. Once freed, vets found it suffered from skin problems on its ears and muscle wasting in its limbs. Such long-term survival in harsh conditions is rare, even compared to other high-profile animal rescues, like a dog saved from a 20-metre shaft in the US in 2023 or a cow extracted from a cave system in Germany in 2024.

The dog is now receiving medical care for its injuries and malnutrition. Its rescue highlights both the risks of abandoned mine shafts and the determination of rescuers to save animals in extreme situations. The case also underscores the importance of community support in prolonged survival scenarios.