Some dogs are natural-born troublemakers, but Petey took it to a new level. In Amazing Dog Stories—a finalist for the National Dog Writers Association’s Book of the Year—we follow the fearless (and sometimes reckless) Petey as he stumbles into one of the most dangerous situations a dog could face: sinking into an isolated tar pit with no way out.

A Routine Walk Takes a Dangerous Turn

Petey was known for his adventurous spirit. He was athletic, impulsive, and completely fearless—qualities that made him an exciting but exhausting dog to care for. While walking near a remote part of the property one early morning, Petey’s boundless curiosity led him straight into disaster.

Wandering ahead of his owner, David Wilk, Petey caught sight of something interesting and, without hesitation, bolted toward it. His owner, quite a distance behind, suddenly heard a strange plop followed by frantic barking.

Wilk starting running toward the sound, and when he spotted his dog—Petey was trapped, sinking rapidly into a hidden tar pit. Yes, tar pit. Like the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. Who would ever expect to find one in their own neighborhood?

The Sinking Feeling of Panic

Unlike mud or water, tar is thick, sticky, and nearly impossible to escape from without help. Like quicksand. Every movement only made things worse. Petey’s torso was already sunken into the deadly tar trap, and his panicked attempts to climb out were dragging him deeper. By the time Wilk got to the edge of the tar pit, Petey was sunken to his neck with only his head still above the tar.

His owner’s heart pounded. Wilk had to act fast. If Petey sank any further, he would not be able to breathe, let alone escape. But getting close enough to pull him out was another challenge—the edges of the pit were unstable, and stepping into the tar pit could mean getting trapped, too.

Carefully, Wilk took a step into the pit, attempting to reach Petey. But he was still too far away. He took another step into the pit and attempted to pull Petey up by his head. But Petey did not budge at all.

That when Wilk realized, he was sunken to his knees and could not pull his legs out. He was trapped, too. Frantically, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed 911. He was now sunken to his waist.

A Last-Second Rescue

By a miracle, the Ventura Fire Department showed up quickly enough to pull David out first, putting the premium on human life, then spread ladders over the tar pit and started to dig Petey out just in time. Slowly, Petey’s body started emerging from the thick sludge. The suction of the tar made it difficult, but inch by inch, he was dragged toward solid ground. After what felt like an eternity, Petey was finally free—completely coated in black, sticky tar but, miraculously, alive.

The relief was overwhelming, but there was no time to celebrate. Petey needed immediate help to clean the tar off his fur before it hardened or he tried to lick it off.

The Aftermath—A Very Messy Pup

Getting Petey home was only half the battle. Cleaning Petey up turned into an hours-long process. Tar doesn’t wash off with soap and water, so a combination of baby oil and special cleaning agents was needed to slowly break down the thick coating. It was exhausting work, but the alternative—shaving off all his fur—didn’t seem possible. Wilk and his wife, Terryle, worked on getting their dog clean for 11 hours. They couldn’t have him try to lick off all that toxic tar.

Through it all, Petey seemed completely unfazed. His eyes sparkled with mischief, and he acted like he had just gone on the greatest adventure of his life.

His owners, however, weren’t sure their hearts could handle another stunt like that.

A Story of Reckless Curiosity and Unbreakable Love

Petey’s tar pit disaster was just one of many reckless adventures, but it was also a reminder of the deep love between dogs and their humans. No matter how frustrating or terrifying their antics might be, we would do anything to protect them.

📖 Amazing Dog Stories—a finalist for the National Dog Writers Association’s Book of the Year—is filled with heart-racing moments like this one. This book is a must-read if you love stories of daring rescues, mischievous pups, and the unbreakable bond between humans and dogs.

Stay tuned for the next article, where we dive into another one of Petey’s infamous adventures—leaping off a cliff in pursuit of a ball! 🐶⛰️