HIGH POINT, NC (USA) — Strange, ghostly wails emanating from beneath the city turned out to be the distressed calls of a young puppy who had gotten stuck in a drainage pipe early this week.  It took the efforts of several concerned residents and three workers from the City of High Point street department to finally nab the elusive pup, reported the News-Record yesterday.

Residents gathered around a storm drain at the intersection of Vernon Place and Evans Street as the 90-minute drama unfolded.  "This is so sad," said resident Nellie Zimmerman as she stood in the rain awaiting the outcome.  "I don't know how he got down there."

After being called to the scene, street department workers Randy Clark, Jackie Hunt and Kevin Vest removed the man hole cover, but the terrified pooch would not emerge.  Then Mr. Clark, street department supervisor, climbed down into the main pipe and attempted to rescue the 6-to-8-week-old Shepherd mutt.  The puppy, however, wasn't about to give up this game of hide-n-go-seek so quickly.

"I chased him from (Vernon Place) to College Drive," describes Mr. Clark.  "At first when I caught up to him, it ran."

With not much light to see by, Mr. Clark relates that it was difficult to track the black-and-tan puppy.  But the spelunking Shepherd's irresistable "puppy dog eyes" were what eventually gave it away.

"Finally when I saw his eyes, I just got on top of it," says Mr. Clark.  "I didn't pick him up right away," he said.  "I just petted him and touched his nose so that he would get used to me.  Then I grabbed him by his nape, in case he wanted to bite me, and cradled him."