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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Graeme Murray

Over 50 rescue dogs miraculously survive after plane crash-lands onto golf course

More than 50 rescue dogs survived after a plane crash-landed onto a golf course.

Crates were from pulled from the wreckage on a plane which was carrying 53 rescue dogs from Louisiana to Waukesha, Wisconsin.

But the aircraft crashed on a golf course which was covered by snow near Milwaukee, US.

A fire chief grabbed another crate from the wrecked plane, with one of the dogs which had freed herself jumping into his arms and "giving him kisses".

Tony Wasielewski, 47, would later welcome the pooch into his family - 48 hours after leaving the crash site.

Workers at the Western Lakes Golf Club in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, watched the aeroplane smash onto the green of the fifth hole at 9am on Tuesday.

Tony Wasielewski pulled crate after crate from the wreckage of the palne which was carrying 53 rescue dogs (Humane Animal Welfare Society)

Jason Hoelz, the club's general manager recalled how the plane headed straight for the trees which broke its wings.

It then went through a marsh, skidded past second hole fairway and crashed into a tree on the third hole where it finally stopped.

Matthew Haerter, assistant chief at Lake Country Fire and Rescue, said hours later: "This was a relatively catastrophic landing."

Everyone on board the plane escaped and every dog survived, but three of the people on board and some pups had minor injuries.

The cause of the crash on Tuesday is not clear, but The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation.

Workers from the golf course pulled the pilot, co-pilot and another person from the wreckage before taking off the scores of dog crates.

After firefighters arrived, golf carts were used by workers to take them to the crash site.

Maggie Tate-Techtmann, director for the Humane Animal Welfare Society, told The Washington Post it was among planned trips taking at-risk dogs from the south of the US to shelters in the Waukesha region.

The organisation usually carries out two trips a month although most are done by van.

A large team of workers and volunteers had assembled at Waukesha County Airport to receive the incoming dogs which had travelled on the 1600-kilometre trip.

They scrambled to the golf course and staff vets examined all of the animals took 21 to HAWS and the remainder to other shelters in the area.

Tate-Techtmann said at Tuesday's news conference: "It is a lot of just comforting them and caring for them.

"Every animal is different just like we are, so we're all going to react a little bit differently."

HAWS employees began a campaign to raise cash for"'unforeseen medical and other costs" following the incident.

And as of Thursday afternoon, they had raised more than £5,500 (US$6500) which exceeded their target.

The shelter re-homed seven of the 53 dogs dubbed the "Western Lakes Loves" and that has risen to 19.

At least one has found a home at found with Tony Wasielewski's family.

After the anonymous animal threw herself into the deputy chief's arms and licked him he held her for a while before continuing his work pulling crates from the wreckage.

Wasielewski's wife wanted another to join the two other dogs which they already had at home.

Workers then found the dog which was was named CeeCee.

According to Stuff, Wasielewski said: "As soon as the lady opened up the door, she bypassed my wife, jumped in my arms and started giving me kisses."

He added: "They've basically taken her in like she's one of them. It's actually mind-boggling how she's getting along with everyone,"

"It's like she's lived here for years."

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