GROVETOWN, Ga. - A Columbia County family had a scare early Sunday morning when their six-week-old puppy fell down an open drain outside.

During a walk, the Johnson family's puppy Zeus fell down a small drain opening in their front yard. He was trapped 12 feet underground.

The Martinez Fire Department got the call and responded, while the Johnson's tried to listen for any signs of life from Zeus.

"I was banging on the drain so I could hear the dog, anything just to hear the dog,” Nakia Johnson, a mother and one of Zeus’s owners. “It was like one of my children gone, so it was really, really upsetting."

After more than three hours of digging and searching, the rescue operation was a success.

Firefighters used a hose to flush Zeus to an opening in the drain pipe. The little dog was exhausted and had to be revived with oxygen, but he was happily reunited with his owner.

Nyya Johnson received Zeus as a present from her parents. She didn’t think she’d ever see her dog again.

"It was really nice of the [firefighters],” said Nyya. “I'm thankful and grateful they came out here and helped."

It took a lot of man power, equipment and time to save Zeus, but it all paid off.

"Small dogs, cats, birds squirrels; we've done it all," said Chief Danny Kuhlmann of the Martinez Fire Department. "It's worth it in the end, as you can see the homeowner is pleased."

If it's true that every dog has his day, then it's probably fair to say Zeus owes his day to Martinez's firefighters.

Although the Martinez Fire Department has rescued quite a few dogs, cats and other household pets, they say they're trained to rescue animals as big as horses and cows.

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