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HomeHeroesBurbie’s Fight: Houston Firefighters’ Dramatic Rescue of a Chihuahua Stranded on a...

Burbie’s Fight: Houston Firefighters’ Dramatic Rescue of a Chihuahua Stranded on a Texas Bridge

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On November 29, 2024, Houston firefighters received an urgent call from the Houston Botanic Garden. Upon arriving at the scene, the Texas rescue team began to get to work. Their goal? Rescue Burbie, a Chihuahua stuck at the bottom of a bridge.

The Dramatic Rescue of Burbie

Burbie the Chihuahua is rescued by a Houston firefighter.  Source: Houston Botanic Garden/Facebook
Burbie the Chihuahua is rescued by a Houston firefighter. Source: Houston Botanic Garden/Facebook

Firefighters at Houston Fire Department worked together to save Burbie in a rescue operation that proved to be rather difficult, thanks to the feisty Chihuahua.

Burbie somehow found herself stuck at the bottom of a pedestrian bridge. As this bridge is over the Sims Bayou channel, the poor pet was quickly surrounded by water. Burbie was first spotted by a staff member at the Houston Botanic Garden.

Once firefighters arrived, they got to work, swimming to the area where Burbie was stuck.

The rescue team was intent on bringing the Chihuahua back to solid ground. However, the scared dog didn’t make their rescue easy. According to local reports at KHOU 11, Burbie quickly tried to evade her rescuer. 

When the firefighter neared her, she barked at him. At one point, she even tried to nip at his fingers. Video of the dramatic rescue shows Burbie doing her best to avoid capture by this well-meaning rescuer. 

At one point, the firefighter tried to grab the pup. Burbie’s response was to dive into the water.

Luckily, Burbie’s spirited nature didn’t completely derail the rescue operation. The firefighter was able to swim after her and scoop her up in his arms. Once they both were back on dry land, Burbie made sure to turn around and bark at him.

All firefighters involved were clearly happy to have Burbie safely with them. The Chihuahua didn’t seem to enjoy her rescue. Photos show the pup wrapped up in a blanket, wide-eyed, and in the arms of a smiling firefighter.

Burbie’s Journey Back Home

Burbie the Chihuahua is rescued by a Houston firefighter.
Burbie the Chihuahua is rescued by a Houston firefighter. Source: Houston Botanic Garden/Facebook

Thankfully, Burbie’s luck didn’t end there. As the dog didn’t have a collar, the rescue team allowed Judy Hausler, an independent animal rescuer, to take in the dog.

By the next day, Burbie’s family had contacted Hausler. Hausler learned that Burbie had raced out the door that Monday. The family didn’t know where the missing pup had gone. They quickly recognized Burbie when they saw local news coverage of her rescue.

By Saturday morning, Burbie had been reunited with her owners happily. 

Hausler explained the heartwarming scene she witnessed when she reunited the family. “She was emotional here, because when they jumped out of the car and I had her in my arms, wrapped in this blanket I let her keep, they were all crying. They were all crying and the grandma is going, ‘Mama, mama, come here baby, come here.’ And it was just so sweet,” Haulser told KHOU.

Burbie’s owners explained that the Chihuahua had never run away before. However, after her latest adventure, they now had plans to take Burbie to the vet to be microchipped.

Thanking Houston Fire’s Heroes

Dramatic rescue of a tiny Chihuahua in Houston, Texas. Source: Houston Botanic Garden/Facebook
Dramatic rescue of a tiny Chihuahua in Houston, Texas. Source: Houston Botanic Garden/Facebook

Burbie’s dramatic rescue has also highlighted the heroism and bravery of local Houston firefighters. Even though the clearly frightened Chihuahua made things difficult for them, they still successfully brought the pup to safety.

Houston Botanic Garden thanked the heroes on Facebook, writing, “We love knowing that everyone and everything in and around the Garden is in good hands with these trained community helpers on the job.”

Burbie’s owners have also publicly expressed their thanks. “We are very grateful for the efforts of the first responders and of everyone involved to help us bring our baby home. I don’t think that there’s anything that we could possibly do to repay the efforts of those involved, but I will say that I am very grateful,” they told KHOU.

A Heartwarming Rescue

Fortunately, Burbie’s tale ends on a heartening note. Thanks to the Houston Botanic Garden’s call to local firefighters, the Chihuahua was easily saved. Now, the pup is safe at home with her owners.

This rescue is also a great example of what to do if you find an animal in a distressing situation. Quickly calling your local animal rescue or fire station in similar circumstances is always recommended. 

Julia Mehalko
Julia Mehalko
Julia is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Growing up, she had two Chihuahua/Daschund/Jack Russell mixes that she adored. Thanks to these two loyal yet sassy dogs, Julia has a soft spot in her heart for all Chihuahua pups!
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