Nice News at Noon: An attic, a dog named Yogi and some local heroes

It's a common complaint: We don't offer enough good news.

We can't erase the public safety issues that often dominate local headlines, but we can do a better job of highlighting the bright spots in our community, region and nation.

Enter Nice News at Noon.

My goal is to do this daily. It all depends on the stories I get from you. So if you have a feel-good story, please email it to ssorich@ledger-enquirer.com. I'll take anything from an elaborate tale to a simple anecdote about buying a soldier dinner. I'll also try to throw some state and national feel-good headlines into the mix.

With that, let's get to today's story.

It comes from Terese Young, who lives in Columbus' Lakebottom area. At the story's forefront? A cute little pug dog named Yogi.

In a recent email, Young wrote, "I had gone up to our attic looking for something in storage. My 9-year-old daughter accidentally let Yogi up into the attic, which we never do. He wandered around the corner and fell about 12 feet down a hole that goes behind our chimney."

Panic ensued.

The Young family searched for Yogi and heard nothing, even when they attempted to lure him with his favorite treat bag. Finally, Young's husband found Yogi inside a hole the family didn't know existed.

The dog was barely moving. "All we could see was his wee paw sticking out from under a board that had fallen on top of him," Young wrote. The hole was narrow, and the family couldn't help Yogi on their own.

Wait, don't cry. This story ends well.

In Superman's absence, the family opted for the next best thing: their local fire station. They found their heroes at Station No. 6 on Brown Avenue.

"Lt. Sadler offered to come have a look and brought three guys with him," Young wrote. Thanks to tools and patience, Operation Save Yogi was successful.

"Somehow, after they brought him up out of the hole, Yogi got his normal energy back and was running around socializing with all the firemen like nothing had ever happened!! He even chased our neighbor's truck down the street later that night, which told me he was back to his rascally self," Yong wrote.

So yes, good people really exist. Just ask rascally Yogi.

"I think it was completely a Good Samaritan gesture," Young said in a phone interview. "We were blown away by their willingness to help and the patience they took to rescue him."

Aww. Hope this dose of warm, fuzzy feelings sustains you until our next installment.

Do something nice today. And Yogi...stay out of the attic.