A leisurely stroll in Michigan took a perilous turn for a 3-year-old dog when she tumbled off a 60-foot cliff.
During a scenic walk at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Wednesday evening, Dancer, accompanied by her Minnesota-based family, managed to slip out of her leash, as reported by the National Park Service (NPS) in a news release on Thursday. The adventurous pup plummeted 60 feet from a cliff near Minors Castle, landing on a ledge below.
Despite hours of searching in the dark, Dancer’s owners couldn’t locate their pet and eventually presumed her to be deceased. Park rangers were alerted to the situation and reached out to Superior High Angle Rescue Professionals (SHARP), a specialized rope rescue team, for assistance in locating the dog, believed to be in a hazardous area near Lake Superior’s shoreline.
“SHARP members Erik Olsen, Westley Shaffer and Tyler Davis went to the area the following morning and were able to locate a cold, but alive Dancer,” the NPS statement said.
Dancer, fondly referred to as a “professional troublemaker” by her owners, has been joyfully reunited with her family and is making a strong recovery from her recent experience.
“With this year’s mild start to winter, many areas of Pictured Rocks are more accessible than they are most years,” emphasized Chief Ranger Joe Hughes in the announcement. “It is still important to remember to be prepared for slippery, cold conditions that can change quickly.”
Meanwhile, in Poland, the KTOZ Shelter for Homeless Animals demonstrated quick thinking to ensure the well-being of rescued dogs in their care. Upon learning that temperatures were set to drop as low as 20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit), the shelter staff recognized the impossibility of accommodating all 300 dogs, especially those residing in outdoor kennels.
In response to the impending cold spell, the shelter issued a plea for assistance in early January on a Friday. Thanks to the prompt community response, 120 dogs were successfully placed in warm, temporary homes, ensuring the safety of all the animals during the chilly weather.