A dog and cat found themselves at the bottom of a sinkhole in The Woodlands, north Houston. The sinkhole, which appeared between residences and a flood control channel after a week of heavy showers, became the scene of an extraordinary rescue operation. According to Click2Houston, the seven-year-old Pointer named Riley had been chasing the neighborhood cat when both tumbled into the gaping hole.

The Woodlands Fire Department responded to the scene, working diligently to free the trapped duo; they excavated soil around the chasm, creating a makeshift escape route. Riley, however, seemed more intent on her feline quarry than on self-preservation and refused to leave the cat behind, despite being stuck near a displaced drainage pipe, the Fire Department detailed on their Facebook page.

Montgomery County Animal Control joined in with equipment and manpower, but to no avail; the stubborn Pointer would not exit the sinkhole. Ultimately, Riley's owners, facing the futility of the situation, dismissed the rescue teams, hoping for a resolution devoid of an audience. And indeed, once the throngs retreated, the animals, seemingly preferring their privacy, managed a self-led escape.

After a few tense hours, the dog and the cat emerged, worn yet unharmed; Riley's relief was palpable as she was exhausted and hungry but doing well otherwise, her owner reported. Meanwhile, Woodlands Water officials are now tasked with addressing the aftermath of the heavy rain, plotting a long-term solution for the unexpected, but not calamitous, sinkhole.