Heroic Strangers Rescue Abandoned Dog From 13,000 Ft. Colorado Mountain
Recently in the Colorado mountains an amazing kind of rescue took place. Hikers Scott Washburn and his wife Amanda had accidentally wandered a little off the trail during a hike when they came upon Missy, a German Shepherd mix. Missy was wedged in a crevice off the main trail. She was in very bad shape, her paws were bleeding, and she was severely dehydrated. Also her nostrils were plugged shut and she was clearly having trouble breathing.
The couple gave Missy food and water but were not able to carry the 100 lb. dog back down the 13,000 ft. mountain. But once they got back on the ground they started calling around trying to find a rescue organization that would go back up and get her. A similar incident in July had happened with 2 dogs and their owners and a rescue organization had gone up and brought them back down. But this time organizations were hesitant to do so since there were no humans involved and they didn't want to take the risk.
That is when the couple decided to post a photo of Missy on a mountain climber's website called 14ers.com. That Sunday night a search team had tried and failed to find her. But the next day on Monday, a second team of eight volunteers, including Washburn and veteran hiker Chris O'Riley, went back up and found her. The hiking team rigged a makeshift sling to get her off the crevice. They then put her into a a large backpack, which members of the team took turns carrying. It took 9 long hours to get her back down safely. During this time a fierce snowstorm started also. It is felt that Missy never would've survived the storm if she had not been found and rescued. After they got her back on the ground, Missy was rushed to the emergency vet clinic.
Missy was being called the "Miracle Dog" because she had been abandoned by her owner for 8 whole days without food and water. While she was in the vet clinic a man contacted the 14ers website claiming to be her owner. He said that Missy had injured herself and he could not carry her down so he left her there to get help of which he could not find any one to help him. So he left her there all alone but now he wants her back.
Missy's rescuers do not want her to go back to this man so for now this very sweet and lucky dog is still in the custody of the county. She is waiting to be cleared by the vet and is expected to make a full recovery. But Missy's rescuers don't want to give her back and the sheriff is now looking into who should get Missy back.
One thing is for sure though, if it had not been for the determination and bravery of the 8 man rescue team, Missy would not be here for anyone to fight over.
VIDEO Dog left on mountain rescued in Colorado
She should definately not be returned to her original owner!!! He couldn't have tried very hard to get someone to save her and certainly does not deserve to have back......
Omg what a horrible thing that man could of done to her. I use to have a German shepherd nd I watched it die I was only 5 years old nd now am 18 years old, I still would try everything in the world to save my dog. I would not give it to the man that left her up there. I would love to have this dog!!!:)
I agree that Missy find a new home with a loving and caring family.
MMM hard to say, i would refuse a chop who has abandoned me...but maybe Missy would be unhappy without him. Missy should choose, but we see things with human eyes!
MMMM if i would have saved her i would try to keep her with me!
That "owner" is no dog lover. How did they sleep at night, eat food and drink knowing they left their dog up there alone and scared and hungry. Does not deserve that dog. Live long and well in your new home Missy!!!! Shame on you previous owner. You stink
The owner abandoned Missy there for he losses all of rights especially after not going right back for her. She should go to the people who found her or on of the rescuers. The owner should have animal cruelty charges brought up on him.
I sure hope that they do not give her back to her owner. What he did is animal cruelty and charges should be brought against him. She needs a new home with people that will love her and take care of her.
THIS IS GREAT !!!!! I love happy endings.
Yeah! Thank-you for helping her when she needed it the most . (*_*)
The owner didn't even tell anyone she was up there!!!! Freaking loser!!! These young men risk their lives for this Gorgeous creature.. They get to decide who keeps her!!!!!! This Country needs to just start doing the RIGHT thing!!! Instead of what stupid law may say...
Poor thing!! What a HORRIBLE owner to abandon his dog in her time of need. I agree, he does not deserve Missy. I think one of the rescuers should keep her. THANK YOU rescuers for saving her life!!! I love animals, I would do anything to help an animal in need. Remember, we are their voice.
No way should that dog go back to that coward. And for him to come forth and admit to leaving her and just assuming she died - a horrible death of starvation, dehydration and the weather - and now act like he cares. People like that should never have a pet. One of my dogs escaped out of our fenced in yard and was gone two days. I couldn't sleep, cried and looked for her and by the grace of God we found her 9 miles away. Bless those who went and found this baby and brought her safely down. They are good people!
No was should the owner get this dog back if one of recuers want her then they should be aloud to have her or even the young couple that found her should have her after all it was god that lead them to her so he realy made the desision on who should have her well done to every one and shame on her so called owner let some one who will love and look after her give her a home.
A pet is like having a child. Your love for your animal should be such that you would die for them, just like they would die for you...I would have never given up. Dogs are truly faithful and would save your life at the expense of theirs in a flash, if needed. She needs to be with someone that would die for her..He gave up finding help...he can't have her back..
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Missy should ABSOLUTELY NOT be returned to her owner - what a stupid jerk he is! First of all, that he would take a dog up there - omigosh, how ignorant! Then that he would leave her and not even try to send help. Would he have left a child up there? I should hope not, and yet, he left Missy, an injured animal, made all the more defenseless by her injuries. I think the couple who found Missy and sought out the help for her rescue should DEFINITELY be the ones to adopt her. PLEASE, whoever makes the decision about who gets Missy, do NOT return her to the original owner. And one more thing: the forest ranger that the couple encountered and the sheriff's dept who has the rescue team, both of which said they couldn't help to rescue Missy, did they even try to find someone that COULD help? Obviously, they would have the communication resources to send out a distress call and get help for Missy. But, obviously, they did not care. Again, I stress the fact that Missy belongs with the couple who found her, NOT the stupid jerk who left her to die.
We would love to adopt Missy...in Calif, have 20 acres, no other pets.