While enjoying their morning coffee, many wouldn’t anticipate playing the hero for a stranded animal. However, one elderly man stepped up when he spotted a little dog in distress on a cliff’s edge.
Realizing the urgency, he contacted the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR) in Colorado, requesting their assistance to rescue the poor pup.
Help Is On The Way
Officers Barker and Johnson arrived to find the dog so far away that they required binoculars to see her.
“He [the elderly man] was funny because I couldn’t see her without my binoculars, and he said he knew the ‘dot’ was an animal because he’s never seen that dot there before,” said Officer Barker.
Using binoculars, they spotted the dog stuck on a precarious ledge above a steep 50-yard drop into the creek. Knowing they had to act fast, they were fortunate that a nearby resident had the necessary mountaineering gear.
Rescue Mission
Not knowing how long the dog had been stranded, they took immediate action. Officer Barker, using a harness secured to a wooden fencepost, carefully descended to reach the dog.
As Officer Barker approached, the dog instantly began to wag her tail, trying to reach her rescuer. Unfortunately, the loose dirt below caused her to slide back.
“The dirt kept sliding out from under her, but she kept trying. When I was down on the cliffside with her, she tried crawling towards me again. When I finally got to her, she kept licking my hands and face,” recalled Officer Barker.
To ensure the dog’s safety, Officer Johnson lowered a catchpole, thoughtfully allowing Officer Barker to secure it around the dog’s neck and shoulders.
To prevent any sliding, Officer Barker ensured that even if the ground gave way, the dog would remain secure. Once she had the dog safely in her grasp, Officer Johnson lowered another rope attached to a makeshift harness for added safety.
As soon as everything was secure, he gradually pulled both Officer Barker and the dog back to solid ground.
Found Dog
They promptly took the dog back to the shelter where it was discovered she had a tag and a microchip. This allowed them to retrieve her name, Jessie Lee, along with her owner’s details.
The HSPPR contacted the dog’s owners right away to share the wonderful news. During their conversation, they learned that Jessie Lee had been missing for two weeks, and the cliff was only a few blocks from her home.
The family was ecstatic to have their beloved dog back. They immediately set out to the Colorado shelter to reunite with Jessie Lee, bringing their family circle back together.
Final Word
This heartwarming story reminds us of the importance of microchipping our pets. Even with a visible tag, the process of locating her family could have been much more complicated without the microchip.
In Jessie Lee’s case, it made all the difference, allowing her to return to her family in no time!
