In the TV shows, Lassie was usually the one alerting the adults that a child had fallen into the well.

Saturday night, July 24 around 10 p.m., a call came in about a dog who had fallen into an abandoned well on the grounds of the Norwood School.

Cabin John Park Volunteer station 10, which is located just down River Road from Norwood, was the first to respond, said Pete Piringer, @mcfrsPIO on twitter, Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service.

The owner was on the scene; the 80-plus pound lab-mix dog had wandered from home and fallen 10-20 feet into the well. Cabin John rescuers put in the call for the Spec Ops Technical Rescue Team and Animal Control personnel.

After stabilizing the situation, including pumping air down the opening to provide support for the dog, responders put a ladder down into the well so a rescuer could climb down and carry the dog out. The dog was injured but appeared to be set for a good recovery.

The well was in a heavily wooded area behind the main school building.