MANSFIELD — They weren’t rushing into a burning building or performing a dramatic rescue. But Mansfield firefighters made a huge difference in the life of Kujo this week.
The 5-year-old Black German Shepherd got a purse clasp hook stuck in herĀ paw on Monday morning, according to Lucas resident Britnee Slade.
Slade, 25, had walked outside to start her car in preparation for a trip to the grocery store.
“My daughter was playing with a purse, which she had around her neck like she was carrying it. My dad came out and said Kujo was hurt,” Slade said.
Slade went back into the house and found the clasp from the purse, with which 2-year-old Everlee was playing had come off, and was lodged into Kujo’s rear right paw.
“She couldn’t walk … she was trying to get it out, but she couldn’t. She just kept making it worse,” Slade said.
Slade carried the full-grown German Shepherd to her car and went to seek help. She knew the Monroe Township Fire Department that serves the village is volunteer and instead headed into Mansfield.
Slade took Kujo on a 20-minute ride to Mansfield Fire Department Station 6 at 677 Springmill St. Once there, she scooped Kujo up and carried her into the station.
“One of the firefighters and I held her down. The other firefighter held her paw, pushed the clasp in and then yanked it out. Kujo was howling like a huskie being murdered. I have never heard her talk so much in her life,” Shade said.
“They had it out in two minutes,” she said. “Afterward, Kujo was perfect. She was giving them kisses and loving on them and running around like nothing had happened.”
Slade, her mom, Everlee and Kujo returned to Station 6 on Thursday afternoon to thank the firefighters with cupcakes.
Reip said it was all in a day’s work.
“The clasp was stuck between the webbing of her toes,” Reip said. “I held the dog while Chris worked it loose. He had to open it all the way, which caused the dog a little bit of pain, but it popped right off after that. She was fine, more scared than anything.”
Slade said the firefighters saved her a huge medical bill if she had to take Kujo to a veterinarian’s office.
“Many people, with a dog like Kujo, they are scared of the bite factor. The firefighters were not scared at all. They saved me a huge bill,” Slade said.
