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Deaf, blind dog search abandoned Deaf, blind dog search abandoned
(about 1 hour later)
The search for an 18-year-old deaf and blind dog trapped down a deep hole in old mine workings in south Wales for two days has been called off.The search for an 18-year-old deaf and blind dog trapped down a deep hole in old mine workings in south Wales for two days has been called off.
Sprogget vanished into the hole on British Mountain near Pontypool, Torfaen on Wednesday.Sprogget vanished into the hole on British Mountain near Pontypool, Torfaen on Wednesday.
There had been frantic efforts by rescuers to reach the Jack Russell cross involving an excavator and miners digging by hand late into the night. Rescuers had used a remote camera and worked into the night in attempts to reach the Jack Russell cross but no sound could be heard of him on Friday.
But no sound could be heard of him and the search was abandoned on Friday. His owner said he was upset but had "little doubt" he was dead.
Robot cameras were also involved in the search to locate Sprogget who disappeared while walking with his owner New Zealander David Sampford at lunchtime on Wednesday. Sprogget disappeared while walking with his owner New Zealander David Sampford at lunchtime on Wednesday.
It was thought the hole, which Sprogget had fallen into, opened up on top of the old workings from the former Six Bells colliery nearby.It was thought the hole, which Sprogget had fallen into, opened up on top of the old workings from the former Six Bells colliery nearby.
The rescue team has tried to reach SproggetThe rescue team has tried to reach Sprogget
Initially, the fire service and RSPCA were called to help find the animal, but after one night underground the search team was extended.Initially, the fire service and RSPCA were called to help find the animal, but after one night underground the search team was extended.
An excavator dug to several metres down around the hole on Thursday until rescuers could hear the dog whimpering.An excavator dug to several metres down around the hole on Thursday until rescuers could hear the dog whimpering.
Then a team of 15 including miners from the local Black Barn colliery volunteered to try to reach Sprogget by digging with picks and shovels and lighting the scene with their mining lamps and a generator.Then a team of 15 including miners from the local Black Barn colliery volunteered to try to reach Sprogget by digging with picks and shovels and lighting the scene with their mining lamps and a generator.
Before they left on Friday night rescuers dropped chocolate bars and crisps down the fissure to try to sustain Sprogget through his second night underground. Before they left on Friday night rescuers dropped chocolate bars and crisps down the fissure to try to sustain him through a second night underground.
But on Friday morning when they returned there was no sound of the dog and it was decided to call it off.But on Friday morning when they returned there was no sound of the dog and it was decided to call it off.
Before the search was officially called off Mr Sampford, said he was "very disappointed" there was no further sign of his pet. Mr Sampford, who has had Sprogget since he was 12, said: "We are going to getthe RSPCA to make sure, because there's still a little doubt in my mind but itlooks as if he is dead.
"Two nights is quite a lot, isn't it, for an 18-year-old dog?" he said. "I just want to make sure before they fill the hole in. I will have to tell myfamily soon and we'll have to move on. I am upset."
He praised rescue workers.
"The effort they've put in here is as if they were trying to rescue a human,let alone a dog. They've done a really good job."
Mike Doyle, a regional engineer for the Coal Authority, said: "The guys put CCTV cameras down there and we haven't been able to see him, so with not knowing if he was alive or not, there was no point continuing.
"Last night we could hear him quite loudly and knew that he was in theresomewhere but the reality of it is that the stone was quite dense and it wastaking an hour to excavate a metre."