A 66-year-old Texas man who attempted to rescue his Yorkshire terrier from a storm drain wound up having to be rescued by firefighters.

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Gary Welborn of Grapevine said Dolly, a 14-year-old dog he inherited when his father died in May, fell into a storm drain near his home Monday, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported Tuesday.

"Nothing would have kept me from going after her," Welborn said. "She was in peril."

Welborn said he used a large screwdriver to pry off a manhole cover a few feet from the storm drain and was able to shimmy down to the dog and hand her up to his wife, Peggy. However, he then found he was unable to climb back out of the drain.

Grapevine Fire Department firefighters rescued Welborn, who suffered abrasions to his legs and elbows.