Winston the dog surely got showered with love, and probably a lot of dog shampoo, after being stuck in the mud for almost three days.

On Saturday, while out for a walk with his owner, Helen Peake, Winston the pet collapsed into a badger sett in Diamond Jubilee Wood, Leicestershire. It was clear that the little dog had bitten off more than he could chew. The hole had been mostly concealed by a holly bush, and Heather sounded the alarm, but it proved difficult to rescue Winston since badgers are protected by law. Despite reaching out to several authorities without success, the spaniel was finally saved on Tuesday when firefighters and the RSPCA teamed up to free him from the burrow.

The firefighters employed specialized equipment to rescue Winston and followed his muffled barks to pinpoint where to dig.

In addition, specialized listening and locating devices were used to find him, and the fire teams called for reinforcements to assist with the excavation process. The rescue had to be carried out slowly to prevent the pavement from collapsing on the trapped dog. After Weary Winston was successfully rescued, he was handed over to RSPCA officers for a health check-up and, most importantly, reunited with his overjoyed owner.

Right after being returned to his number one human, he immediately rolled onto his back to get his belly rubbed. Helen posted on Facebook, saying “It’s been a hell of a weekend/week, but hey, he’s safe and sound with us and that’s all that matters”. The teams reported that no other animals were found at the scene, which suggests that the badger den is inactive.

Winston isn’t the sole water dog with a yearning for adventure this year.

In January, an 11-month-old pup named Reggie fell into a 22-foot crevice on a mountain in Wales. Rescue teams worked tirelessly through the night to save the dog using ropes and specialized equipment. The owner, Leah Davies, described her brave puppy as a “true little warrior” after the harrowing experience.