Dog rescued after being trapped in cave with bear for three days

These firefighters are the bearers of good news.

A dog was rescued after spending three days trapped in a Tennessee cave with a 200-pound bear, according to local officials.

Fire officials in Waldens Creek, about 25 miles southeast of Knoxville, responded to a report of a missing dog, Charlie, that was found trapped 40 feet down in a narrow cave shaft in the woods on Oct. 10.

But when a firefighter went down into the cave to rescue the dog, she rounded a corner and ran right into a bear sleeping about five feet below the pup, trapping Charlie deeper in the cave, the Walden Creek Fire Department said.

The following day, the bear left and did not return to the cave, allowing rescue efforts to resume, officials said.

Using a rope system, responders descended into the cave and located Charlie, who they strapped into a harness and pulled out of the cave. He was “quickly reunited with his happy owner,” fire officials said.

Video posted by the department showed the moment the black and brown is led out of the cave to applause.

“Good boy!” one person says.