What started as a routine walk turned into an overnight rescue after a dog named Maverick broke off his leash in Bend, Oregon.
His owner spent the night searching for him, then finally spotted him on a cliff and called for help, according to a Bend Fire and Rescue Instagram post.
Bend Fire and Rescue told Central Oregon Daily that firefighters found the black dog wedged in a recessed spot along a slim ledge. He was about 3 metres below the top of the cliff and about 7.6 metres above the ground, which made him hard to spot and hard to reach.
Responders set up rope gear for steep terrain and lowered a firefighter down to Maverick’s position. After attaching the dog to a leash, firefighters carefully encouraged him out of the recessed area until he was able to climb back to the top on his own.
Maverick was not injured and returned home safely.
“We recognize that animals are family, and we treat them as patients with the same care, compassion, and professionalism we provide to all those we serve,” Bend Fire and Rescue wrote.
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