A man in Connecticut is facing burglary charges after getting himself stuck in a chimney while trying to pull off a dramatic rescue mission for his dog.
According to the Associated Press, the bizarre scene went down early Sunday morning at Rockwell Park in Bristol, when officials received a call about a suspected burglary in progress. But when police and firefighters arrived, they didn’t find a thief—they found a man trapped in the building’s chimney, claiming he was just trying to get his pup back.
The “Mission” to Save His Dog
The unnamed man told authorities that his dog had gotten locked inside the park bathroom after the doors automatically shut for the night. So instead of calling for help or waiting until morning, he decided to go full Santa Claus and squeeze through the chimney of the building—an attempt that didn’t end well.
Once inside the narrow space, the man became completely stuck, prompting a massive response from firefighters, who were forced to break through parts of the facility to extricate him. The damage? Somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000, according to park officials.
The Aftermath: Charges Filed and Questions Raised
While the dog was not injured, and reportedly safe and healthy, the man didn’t get off so easy. He was immediately arrested and charged with:
- Burglary
- Trespassing
- Criminal Mischief
He’s now set to appear in court on July 7.
Erica Benoit, Bristol Parks’ community engagement coordinator, told local media that the bathroom doors are on a timer and automatically lock at 10 p.m. But here’s the catch—they can still be opened from the inside.
We love a devoted dog owner—but breaking into a park building and getting stuck in a chimney is not the way. Now facing multiple charges and a hefty repair bill, this Connecticut man’s rescue attempt turned into an embarrassing emergency of its own.
Moral of the story? If your dog gets locked somewhere—call animal control, not a contractor.