Firefighter Carries Dog 2 Miles from Utah Mountain Ledge to Safety

A 1-year-old Vizsla named Rue had a rueful experience over the weekend. Spooked by fireworks on the Fourth of July, she escaped from her Salt Lake City yard, ran more than three miles and, after injuring a paw, became stranded on a ledge along a mountain trail.

Fortunately, a hiker saw Rue the next day and called 911. A crew from Salt Lake Fire Station 10 hiked over two miles up the Shoreline Trail to reach Rue, who wasn’t moving.

They gave the dehydrated dog water, then firefighter Tony Stowe hoisted Rue onto his shoulders and carried her down the trail to safety.

Rue, who was microchipped, was reunited with her relieved family yesterday. The injury to her paw was minor.

“My son-in-law takes her and the other dog they have in the car to the Shoreline Trail and goes mountain biking with them,” Danny Morgan told ABC 4 News. “So she knows the area, but doesn’t know how to get to the area on foot.”

Over the Fourth of July weekend, Salt Lake County Animal Services received more than 180 calls about stray dogs, according to ABC 4 News.

“We’re just happy that the dog is okay and we had a successful rescue,” Fire Capt. Ginger Barraclough told ABC 4 News. “We’re honored to be able to work with Animal Services and help dogs. They’re a member of a lot of people’s families.”

Photos via Facebook