The Kites did not realise there was an uncovered soakhole under their deck, let alone that the puppy had gone exploring there.
"It was a surprise," Mr Kite told the Bay of Plenty Times.
In effort to rescue the upset puppy, the Kites began to rip up their timber deck to reach it but the soakhole was too deep.
"I didn't really have anything to reach that far. We weren't too sure what to do - so we rang the fire brigade."
Greerton firefighters arrived and with the Kites hatched several plans to rescue it.
While Mr Kite began taping some poles together, one firefighter tied a snare knot at the end of a piece of rope and threw it down the soakhole.
"I'm not sure which part of the puppy they got but they managed to wrap it around the puppy and pull him out," Mr Kite said.
"He was a happy little puppy."
The puppy was not hurt but was "a little shaken" when it came out.
"Yorkshire terriers, they're pretty small dogs anyway and as puppies they're the size of kittens," Mr Kite said.
"It was put back with its brothers and sisters. We gave it a nice warm drink and mum was there to look after it.
"It was really lucky. If it had been raining, it would have been a different story."
A grate has since been installed on the top of the soakhole.
Mr Kite spent most of his day yesterday repairing the damaged deck.
Greerton fire brigade station officer Steve Wright confirmed firefighters were initially unsure what to do until one came up with the snaring idea.
The puppy was yapping and upset, he said.
Mr Wright echoed Mr Kite's comment that it was fortunate it was not raining.
