Dog rescued from rubble 9 days after Italy's quake

ROME -- A golden retriever was rescued after spending nine days trapped under rubble left by the earthquake that struck central Italy.

The dog, named Romeo, emerged dazed as firefighters captured his rescue on camera. He scampered down the mound of broken concrete and other debris but soon wagged his tail and sniffed his surroundings.

Firefighters told the Associated Press that rescuers heard the dog bark as they were accompanying the pet's owners to retrieve essential belongings from their quake-damaged home.

The Aug. 24 temblor claimed nearly 300 lives, injured hundreds and left thousands of people either without homes or with homes unsafe to immediately inhabit.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.