A DOG who sparked an unlikely rescue mission involving a team of vets and a binman had a lucky escape when he became impaled on a barbed wire fence.

Plucky Parson Russell Terrier Toby has since made a full recovery following his traumatic ordeal, thanks to the team at Abbeycroft Veterinary Surgery in Northwich.

The pooch had been enjoying a routine walk with his brother Marley in woodland in Sandiway on the morning of November 14 when the eight-year-old dog became trapped in a fence close to the roadside.

His owner Gail Webb, 51, from Leftwich, rushed over after hearing his screams and quickly realised he was impaled on the barbed wire.

As luck would have it, within minutes a passing non-clinical vet had stopped to help her and soon after, a bin wagon pulled up and the driver was able to free Toby with equipment he had in the vehicle.

Toby was immediately taken to Abbeycroft, which is part of Willows Veterinary Group, where he was given painkillers before undergoing an operation the following day to stitch up his wounds.

Gail said: “I’d been holding him for about five or ten minutes when a car drove past me and then started to reverse.

“A lady got out and said ‘can I help? I’m a vet’. I couldn’t believe it. She then took control of the situation.

“Within minutes the local binmen pulled up to see if they could help. They had wire cutters in their vehicle so were able to cut Toby free. It really was an extraordinary series of coincidences. It all happened within the space of 15 minutes.

“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who helped Toby. I really want to say thank you to them all.”

Non-clinical vet Jane Stewart, from Cuddington, was first on the scene and she immediately put her knowledge to good practice.

She said: “My husband and I were driving along a quiet country lane and spotted a woman sitting on the ground, next to a fence, cradling something.

“I knew something wasn’t right so my husband reversed the car.

“Once I realised it was a terrier stuck in a fence, I told the lady that I was a vet and could help. Even the best-behaved dogs can bite if they are in pain so I held the dog’s mouth so he couldn’t bite anyone while my husband tried to cut the wire.

“He was having no joy at which point the bin men stopped spontaneously - we hadn’t flagged them down. Thankfully, they were able to cut the dog free.”

Dave Milnes, from Moulton, is a support driver for Kier Group who carry out the waste collection services on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

He was on hand to cut Toby free after pulling up when he saw the commotion on the road side.

Dave said: “You see unusual things when you’re out on the road but cutting a dog free from a fence is a first. I’m glad to hear the dog is OK now and happy I was able to help.”