Most Suwannee County residents have been inconvenienced by recently opened sinkholes throughout the county, but Jasmine actually spent the night in one hole.

Jasmine is the beautiful dog that belongs to John and Marsha Cox of O’Brien.

On the evening of Monday, July 9, Jasmine happily accompanied John’s brother, Dennis Cox, as he picked up debris from Tropical Storm Debby. Surely it seemed like a typical summer evening until the nine-year-old pit bull and fox terrier mix suddenly disappeared.

Dennis began calling out for Jasmine, but didn’t see her. He then began to hear water splashing and was soon able to discover the source of the splashing sound. Dennis Cox found the four foot opening of a sinkhole that had been covered with brush and leaves before Jasmine unsuspectingly plunged into the earth’s opening.

Dennis quickly realized the hole was very deep and Jasmine had plummeted to its bottom. Immediately, he notified John Cox, who in turn called his wife, Marsha, at work to tell her.

Since Jasmine is part of the family and has been in the Cox family since she was just a puppy, they did what anyone might do. They called Suwannee County Fire/Rescue for help.

Rescue workers from SCFR quickly responded to the call and began rescue efforts, but they were running out of ample sunlight.

When firefighters realized the hole was about 35 feet deep, they knew additional equipment would be needed and it was getting late, so they returned to the station with plans of returning the next morning.

Marsha Cox had been able to hear Jasmine respond to her when she would call, but those responses ceased to come and Marsha began losing hope that Jasmine was still alive. She knew there was water at the bottom of the hole and was afraid the beloved pet had gone into a tunnel and was possibly buried.

Upon calling rescue workers Tuesday morning to tell them that she was afraid their efforts might be fruitless, they told Marsha that they were loaded up and on their way back to rescue Jasmine.

Shortly thereafter, rescue workers arrived at the Cox residence on CR 349, near O’Brien, to rescue Jasmine. It wasn’t long before the faint whimpers of Jasmine asking for help could be heard again.

Firefighters utilized ropes and rappelling equipment to begin their quest to save Jasmine. Upon completing their descent, rescue workers observed the dog on a ledge at the entrance to a large cavern over 30 feet beneath the earth’s surface.

According to Marsha, Jasmine is a very mellow dog and she was patiently awaiting her rescue and is now reluctant to return to the great outdoors. She said that Jasmine is sore from the ordeal, but she is otherwise fine.

“Suwannee County Fire Rescue did a great job and we really appreciate their efforts,” Marsha said.

According to SCFR Interim Chief and Public Safety Director James Sommers, there were no injuries sustained in the event and Jasmine was left in the care of her proud owners.