The rescue applauded from a "fat" rat stuck in a sewer in Germany

In the German city of Bensheim, about sixty kilometers south of Frankfurt, firefighters received an unusual call Sunday afternoon.

A rat had been trapped in a vent hole at the top of a sewer and they asked for his help to release him.

The first person to see the animal in trouble was a little girl, according to local animal rescue services.

Michael Sehr, from that office, then arrived at the emergency site, but was unable to release the rodent and called the fire department.

"He had a lot of winter fat and could not move forward or backward," Sehr told local media.

Team Rescue

For the rescue operation, eight firefighters arrived, who lifted the well cover and leaned on holds while Sehr was pushing the rat.

The animal was finally released and released into the sewers.

Sehr received a drawing of the rat surrounded by hearts, directed by the girl who had seen the animal.

The Animal Rescue Team has posted photos and videos of the rodent on its Facebook page and hundreds of users have applauded the attention given to an animal often subject to extermination.

However, some wondered if so much effort had gone into saving a sewer rat.

"Even the most hated animals deserve respect," Sehr said.