While enjoying their morning coffee, most people don’t anticipate the need to rescue an animal stranded on a cliff. However, an elderly man took action when he noticed an unusual movement at the edge of a cliff. Upon closer inspection, he discovered it was a little dog in distress.
The man promptly contacted the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR) in Colorado, reporting the situation and requesting assistance to save the poor pup.
Help Is On The Way
When officers Barker and Johnson arrived, the dog was so distant they needed binoculars to spot her. Officer Barker recalled, “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.” With the binoculars, they confirmed the dog was stuck on a small ledge over a 50-yard drop into the creek. Not knowing how long she had been there, they decided to act right away.
Fortunately, a nearby man provided a mountaineering harness and rappelling rope, proving invaluable for the rescue. Officer Barker securely hooked herself to a sturdy wooden fencepost and cautiously made her way down to the dog.
As soon as the dog saw Officer Barker, she began wagging her tail and attempting to crawl towards her. But as she did, the dirt beneath her started to slip away, hindering her progress. “The dirt kept sliding out from under her, but she kept trying. When I was down on the cliffside with her, she attempted to crawl toward me again. When I finally reached her, she kept licking my hands and face,” Officer Barker recounted.
Officer Johnson then lowered a catchpole, enabling Officer Barker to carefully place it around the dog’s neck and shoulders for secure handling. To ensure the dog’s safety in case the ground eroded completely, Officer Barker was vigilant in securing the catchpole. Once the dog was secured, Johnson lowered another rope attached to a makeshift harness to safely pull both Officer Barker and the dog back to solid ground.
Found Dog
They took the dog back to the shelter for an immediate checkup, where they discovered a tag and a microchip. This led them to her name, Jessie Lee, and her owner’s contact details. The HSPPR quickly notified the owners, sharing the wonderful news.
During the conversation, the family revealed that Jessie Lee had been missing for two weeks and that the cliff was just a few blocks from home. Overjoyed, the family rushed to the Colorado rescue first thing in the morning to reunite with their beloved dog, completing their family once again.
Final Word
This story highlights the importance of having your dog microchipped. Even though Jessie Lee had a tag, the rescuers would have encountered significant challenges locating her family without the microchip, which made the process quick and efficient.
