Animal rescue volunteers raced to save a stricken dog trapped in a ditch at a holiday park - only to find it was a mutt-shaped statue.<br /><br />Staff at Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue said they received ‘multiple reports’ that a pooch was stuck in the muddy ravine at Thorpe Park holiday resort, in North East Lincs.<br /><br />And their team scrambled to the site, near Cleethorpes Beach, in minutes on Saturday night (March 2) and spoke to a lost dog group about their rescue plan.<br /><br />But when they arrived at the pooche's precise location, they discovered that the stricken pup was in fact a 2ft tall ornamental statue of a Spaniel.<br /><br />A spokesperson from the charity said: “Water rescue volunteers were deployed to Thorpe Park (Cleethorpes Beach) tonight after multiple consecutive reports of a dog stuck in a ditch.<br /><br />“While our volunteers deployed to the area, we discussed the case with volunteers at Charlie’s Angels Lost and Found Pets about a plan and the location of the animal.<br /><br />“On arrival, we were thankful to hear... It was a statue! A statue that had already been rescued by an onsite member of staff!<br /><br />“Thank you to those who reported with good intent, and thank you to our water rescue volunteers for their immediate response - on scene and ready to go in less than 20 minutes!”<br /><br />Local residents were full of praise for the charity, which provides rehabilitation for injured wildlife, even though their call-out turned out to be a false alarm.<br /><br />One wrote on Facebook: “Thank goodness. It looked so real in the original photo, well done to the person who reported it, they must've been mortified.”<br /><br />Another joked: “Actually quite a cute statue. Is he for sale?”<br /><br />The charity is currently raising money to help save more animals in need.<br /><br />Visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/get-cleethorpes-wildlife-rescue-back-on-the-road?utm_campaign=p_cp+fundraiser-sidebar&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer to donate.<br /><br />Please go to their website https://www.cleethorpeswildliferescue.co.uk/ for more information.
