Two dogs have been rescued from mine shafts by specialist Victorian firefighters in separate incidents in the same week.
The Country Fire Authority's Bendigo-based Oscar1 Brigade rescued Bruno the bull-Arab on December 5 after he fell down a mine shaft at Castlemaine Diggins National Park.
Less than six days later, the brigade was called to rescue Terry the kelpie-cross from a mine shaft at Woodend.
"The owner said they were camping and the dog just went for a run, but as it was night and you can't see these mine shafts at the best of times, he just fell down the hole," Captain Daniel McMahon said.
"It was a 15-metre shaft but we thought it may have been a false floor, meaning there could have been another 10 or 20 metres below if the floor had collapsed.
"Terry was in surprisingly good nick though with no injuries, so we hooked him up to the ropes and Woodend brigade helped pull him up."
Cpt McMahon said he was pleased both incidents ended with a good result.
"Rescuing a dog in a mineshaft is a serious job, but for us, it also doubles as real-world experience in case we are called to a community member in the same unfortunate situation," he said.
Oscar1 Brigade trains for a variety of rescue situations including grain silos, tower rescues and mines.
