A ROUGH haired terrier is the luckiest dog alive this week after spending nearly two days stuck down a rabbit hole.

Ten-year-old Sparky survived to bark the tale thanks to the persistence of her owners Alex and Janice Pavey, of Beverley Gardens, Ashburton. Mr Pavey was taking Sparky and the family's lurcher for a walk across a field near Chuley Cross, on Thursday last week, when the terrier shot into the hole. That was at 5.30pm and by nightfall she had not resurfaced. Mr Pavey returned at first light on Friday and during the day Ashburton and Buckfastleigh firefighters joined the rescue party. They used chimney rods but dug without success, and Devon Fire and Rescue's urban search and rescue team travelled from Exeter. Special sound probing equipment – which has been used to locate victims in earthquakes – was brought in, but there was no noise from Sparky. A mechanical digger was also at work and one of Mr Pavey's friends sent in a ferret in the hope it would flush Sparky out. The ferret re-appeared but Sparky didn't. The fire service went home after eight hours as hopes of the terrier being alive faded, but Mr Pavey returned with pals early on Saturday morning and with a mini-digger and shovels they began digging and at one point heard a bark. Sparky was eventually found 43 hours after she disappeared. 'It came to a point on Saturday when my husband wanted to find her whether she was alive or dead. 'When they found her she was two or three feet down, was completely wedged in and could not move. 'She was a bit dehydrated and her eyes were a bit sore. She was also absolutely starving and when she got home she had a good meal,' said Mrs Pavey who added that they were absolutely delighted to have her back.