When an employee at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia heard repeated yelping noises coming from a wooded area, they decided to investigate. It turns out that the noises were coming from a dog who’d become stuck in a crevasse in the park.
After rescuing the pup, the crew alerted the pooch’s human via contact information on her collar.
The rescuers found out that the dog had been missing for about a week — and could have been trapped in the crevasse without food and water for days.
Park employees suspect the dog might have survived on mountain rain water before being rescued.
Staging The Rescue Mission
(Picture Credit: Mark Stevens / 500px/Getty Images)Ross Williams is the name of the employee who discovered the dog while out and about conducting maintenance on one of the park’s trails.
After becoming convinced that the repeated yelping sounds were a dog in distress, Williams returned to the location when his shift ended. Along with two other parks employees named Jeremy Browning and Jonathon O’Neil, they managed to safely pull the dog out to freedom.
Speaking to the Charlotte Observer, a park spokesperson described the pup as “very excited to meet her new best friends and showered them with lots of affection. In return, the trails crew, who always has plenty of snacks and water on hand, shared an impromptu meal.”
Both the dog and her human have remained anonymous.
Tips To Stop Your Own Dog From Escaping
While the case of the West Virginia park pup had a happy ending, not all lost dogs are found safely. To prevent your own dog from escaping, consider the following safety tips and precautions:
- Commit to training your dog properly. Teaching a reliable recall is key.
- Make sure your dog receives enough physical exercise and mental stimulation. This is so they don’t get bored and consider wandering off looking for an adventure.
- Never leave your dog alone for any long period of time.
- Make sure your yard fencing is secure and sturdy.
Are you happy to see this pup return to her human safe and sound? Have you taken any steps to make sure that your own dog can’t escape from your house or yard? Let us know in the comments below!
