HOUSTON – Neighbors in the Spring community of Forest North are on a mission to find a dog that appears to be stuck in the area's storm drainage system.
They've heard the animal's whimpers and cries and are even leaving food for the dog.
So much effort outside the home of Theresa Baragon is for one big reason.
"Because it's the life. Not only human, it's the animals," said Baragon. "I love animals. I have a puppy."
They first heard the dog late Tuesday night and have tried to coax the animal out. They've even left blankets to make sure it stays warm, but to no avail.
"As soon as we tried to lift that up and tried to get the dog out, it looks like it's just very scared," said Cynthia Alvarez. "He just ran away."
They're biggest fear is if we see rain and the dog has no way to get out.
"When the water is coming maybe he die, or she die. I don't know if it's boy or girl, I don't know," said Baragon, trying to hold back tears. "But I'm very preocupado (worried). I love puppies."
The Houston SPCA showed up while KPRC was there to offer tips to these would-be dog catchers.
But before then, the neighbors were more than happy to take matters into their own hands -- all to save a dog that doesn't even belong to any of them.
"I have dogs myself. I'm an animal lover," said Grant Beatty, who went into the storm drain to look for the dog with a flashlight. "(It's) worth trying. If they call the police and firemen out and there's nothing they can do, I don't mind going down looking for a dog."
They said the dog appears to be a black lab, or lab mix. The animal has a collar with a tag and red bandanna around its neck, so they believe he is someone's pet and they hope to reunite the dog with its owner.