Utah SAR Team Rescues Giant, Tired Dog From Mountain
Floyd the 190-pound mastiff required a litter carry from Salt Lake County Search and Rescue personnel
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Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue gave new meaning to the phrase “litter of pups” last weekend when they rescued Floyd, a massive mastiff, from Utah’s Grandeur Peak Trail.
The volunteer SAR team set out at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday after several hikers called 911 to report that the injured and exhausted dog and his human were stuck about 2 miles up the trail, according to the organization’s Facebook page.
A handful of rescuers assisted in carrying Floyd in a litter back to the trailhead. The rescue lasted about four hours. “Floyd was a good boy and happy to be assisted,” the team wrote on Facebook.
According to CNN, Floyd and his hiker human got off route, causing the pup to become exhausted before they could make it back to the trailhead.
So how does a canine rescue differ from a human one? Well, in this case, not very much. Floyd’s size allowed rescuers to use the same techniques they would to evacuate an incapacitated adult.
At BACKPACKER, we’ve always sung the praises of Search and Rescue teams across the country, but this story makes us appreciate them just a little more.
Heading to the mountains with your pooch? Don’t let them become the next Floyd. Read our advice on hiking with your dog here.