It was not a cat in a tree. In Bend, Oregon, firefighters were called in early June to rescue a dog stranded on a cliff face.
“Can you spot our patient?” Bend Fire & Rescue asked in a recent Instagram post. “If you look closely, you’ll see Maverick, a dark-colored doggo who perfectly blended into the cliffside where he became stranded overnight after his leash broke while on a walk with his owner.”
“After tirelessly searching, his owner spotted him on the cliff and called for help when they realized the situation he’d found himself in,” the fire department explained.
When crews arrived, they found Maverick on a narrow cliff ledge about 7.6 metres above the ground.
“Frightened and unsure, Maverick had tucked himself into a recessed area, making him both difficult to see and challenging to access,” the fire department wrote.
Using a high-angle rope system, one firefighter was lowered to the ledge. After coaxing Maverick out of his hiding spot, the responder secured a leash on him and gently guided him to the top.
“At Bend Fire & Rescue, we welcome every opportunity to sharpen our skills,” the fire department wrote. “Calls like this allow us to put those skills into action when it matters most, even with our four-legged community members.”
“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.”
The post ended with an update on Maverick’s condition.
“We’re happy to report Maverick is safe and back home where he belongs!” Bend Fire & Rescue wrote. “Big shout out to our responders for saving this good boy.”
The rescue is one of many unusual calls firefighters handle outside house fires.
On January 9, 2025, firefighters in Colorado responded to a horse trapped in a frozen pond.
“LFRA responded to a large animal ice rescue late this afternoon on South County Road 13,” the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority shared on Facebook. “A horse found a way through a fence and onto a frozen pond, which unfortunately could not hold the weight of the horse.”
Crews put on “ice rescue suits” and entered the cold water, using axes and sledgehammers to break the ice. After carving a path, they gently guided the horse to the pond’s edge.
“The rescued horse was warming up and recovering as crews picked up equipment and returned to service,” the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority wrote.
One local replied: “So glad that you guys are dedicated to rescuing any living creature!” Another wrote, “That’s a wonderful story, with a great ending.” A third added: “What a wonderful group of rescuers.”
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