Tampa Police Rescue Dog Trapped in Storm Drain Using Cheese Bucket

Tampa Police Department officers rescued a small dog trapped in a storm drain using a bucket baited with cheese, a creative improvised method not taught in training, and the dog was later handed to animal control and found a permanent home. Multiple outlets confirmed the rescue and the happy ending, with officers praising on-the-spot thinking that allowed the pup to be coaxed into the bucket and lifted to safety. Reports note that the cheese-and-bucket tactic was part of back-to-back rescues in Tampa’s drainage system during hot summer conditions, highlighting the ongoing risk to stray pets in storm drains. In one instance, a second pet—a Shih Tzu—was pulled from a drain a day later using a net and towel, underscoring the broader drain-pet hazard in the area. The rescues have been framed positively by officials and shared by police departments, with the rescued animals subsequently adopted, including a puppy from the latest incident.