When Silverton Fire Company #1 and Toms River Police Department EMS were called to a home in the Anchorage Harbor Condominium Development on Bounty Court just after 8 p.m. last Wednesday, the nature of their given task was outside the scope of their regular duties of medical emergencies and extinguishing blazes.

This time, they were extinguishing the fear of a frightened, entrapped family pet.

A small dog named “Bam-Bam” was being given a bath by his owners when his right hind paw became caught in the bathtub’s drain. Try as they might, and despite Bam-Bam’s own best efforts, he could not be freed from his unusual predicament, hence the call to local authorities.

“Toms River Police EMS evaluated the dog and observed no apparent injuries. But, the dog was nervous and moving around, attempting to free himself. While the owner calmed the dog, firefighters and EMS personnel worked in the bathtub to free the dog’s paw with several unsuccessful attempts,” said Silverton Fire Chief Bob Sinnott.

Sinnott explained that the situation left no other choice than to cut away the interior portion of the bathtub’s drain, in order for Bam-Bam to get free and without injury. All told, the chief said that Bam-Bam emerged from the bathtub unharmed, after being trapped for nearly 40 minutes.