Man Hears Strange Sounds for Days, Realizes There’s a Well Below His House and Something Big Is Trapped There

A man in Longview, Texas, spent several days hearing faint noises but couldn’t figure out where they were coming from. At first, he thought the quiet barking and whimpering sounds were from his neighbor’s property. But one day, he decided to investigate more closely.

He put his ear to the floor and realized the noises weren’t coming from outside—they were coming from beneath his own house. That’s when he called animal control for help.

Jenna George, the executive director of the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center, explained that the man had no idea the sounds were coming from below his floor. When animal control officer Bobby Jumper arrived, he looked under the house, which was a rental property, and made a surprising discovery.

There was an old, empty water well hidden beneath the house, and at the bottom of it was a dog—a white and brown basset hound mix. The dog was barking and wagging its tail, clearly overjoyed to see Jumper. “He was about as happy as could be to see me,” Jumper said.

Neither the man renting the property nor the landlord had any idea the well even existed. It was completely hidden and forgotten. The well was about 12 feet deep, and rescuing the dog wasn’t easy. It took a team effort involving the fire department and the rescue shelter. They worked together for three hours, using tools and equipment to carefully lift the dog out of the hole. They even created a makeshift sling out of webbing and rope to safely bring the dog to the surface.

Despite the tight space and challenging conditions under the floorboards, the rescue mission was a success. “The dog just came straight up, unscathed from the lift,” Jumper said. “It was an amazing feeling to get the dog out.” Once the dog was safe, the rescuers covered the well to prevent any future accidents. They also gave the dog food and water, which he eagerly devoured, licking the bowl clean.

The rescuers estimated that the dog had been trapped in the well for several days, possibly even longer. Since he didn’t have a microchip or any identification, they believed he was likely a stray.

They decided to name him “Timmy,” a nod to a famous 1955 episode of the TV show *Lassie*, where a character falls into a well. Aside from an inflamed ear and a few minor cuts, Timmy was in good health, according to a veterinarian at the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center.

The shelter shared Timmy’s story on Facebook, and it didn’t take long for someone to fall in love with him. On February 27, a woman from Dallas, Texas, saw his picture and immediately knew she wanted to adopt him. She called the shelter and said, “I saw the picture. I’m in love with this dog, and I’d love the opportunity to adopt.” Jenna George described Timmy as a “love bug” and expressed how happy everyone was that the story had such a positive ending.

Timmy’s rescue was a heartwarming reminder of how teamwork and determination can save lives.

From the man who first heard the faint noises to the rescuers who worked tirelessly to free him, everyone played a part in giving Timmy a second chance at life. And now, thanks to his new owner, Timmy has a loving home where he can live happily ever after.