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Firefighters have rescued a Golden Retriever from a pile of quake rubble after they hearing the dog barking, nine days after the trembler struck central Italy.
The dog, called Romeo, appeared to be bewildered at first as it scampered down the mound of broken concrete and other debris, but quickly took a few steps, wagged its tail and sniffed its surroundings.
Firefighters said rescuers heard the dog bark as they were accompanying the pet's owners to retrieve essential belongings from their quake-damaged home.
A cat has also been saved the rubble after spending days trapped in one of the worst-affected areas, Amatrice.
Named Gioia, the cat was described as well but dehydrated.
The earthquake on 24 August claimed at least 290 lives, injured hundreds and left thousands of people without homes or with homes unsafe to inhabit.
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in picturesShow all 15 1 /15Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy A man is carried away after having been rescued alive from the ruins following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016
Reuters
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy A man is carried away after been rescued alive from the ruins following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016
Reuters
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy A man is rescued alive from the ruins following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016
Reuters
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy Rescuers work following an earthquake that hit Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016
Reuters
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy Rescuers work following an earthquake that hit Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016
REUTERS
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy Rescuers carry an injured man among damaged homes after a strong heathquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016
AFP/Getty Images
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy A general view following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, is seen in this August 24, 2016 handout picture provided by Italy's Fire Fighters
REUTERS
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy Rescuers and people walk along a road following an earthquake in Accumuli di Rieti, central Italy, August 24, 2016
REUTERS
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy People survey the devastation in the town of Amatrice
Reuters
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy The earthquake hit the border of three regions, and the USGS measured an additional seven significant tremors in its aftermath
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures A mother embraces her son in Amatrice, central Italy, central Italy, 24 August 2016, following a 6.2 magnitude earthquake
EPA
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Residents look in collapsed buildings in Amatrice, central Italy, 24 August 2016
EPA
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures An injured woman is carried by rescuers amid the rubble of collapsed buildings in Amatrice, central Italy, 24 August 2016,
EPA
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Resident survey the rubble in Amatrice, central Italy, on 24 August 2016
EPA
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Collapsed buildings in Pescara del Tronto, in the Marche region of central Italy, 24 August 2016
EPA
The most heavily affected towns were Amatrice, Accumili di Rieti and Pecara del Tronto. The effects were felt in Rome
At least three Britons were killed in the 6.2 magnitude earthquake.
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