Two dogs were stretchered from a Lake District fell after they fell 30ft from a crag.
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted shortly before 1pm on Monday after the incident on Castle Crag in Borrowdale.
The two white German shepherds, Lexi and Shyler, were injured in their fall.
A team spokesperson said: “Lexi made its own way down to the path despite its injuries.
“Shyler decided to follow Lexi over the cliff but came to rest at the foot of the crag with a suspected broken leg.
“The team was able to drive to the location up the Allerdale Ramble from Grange and, on assessment and discussion with the dog owner, decided the best course of action was to stretcher Shyler down to the path.
“A ‘nest’ of a vacuum mat and casualty bag was made up into which Shyler was placed and strapped in. A back rope was used to aid the steep descent down the scree to the path.
“Lexi was also then placed on the stretcher and both dogs were carried down to the end of the road near Hollows Farm campsite where they could be taken by the owners to the vets.”
Nine Keswick MRT volunteers took part in the rescue, which lasted just over two hours.
Michael, Cumbria
21 August 2018Shouldn't this be a job for the RSPCA?
Diverting overstrained volunteer resources to rescue property and pets worries me given the number of callouts for people in distress.
Rod
21 August 2018Please don't make silly comments!
Nick
21 August 2018A video of the final stages of the rescue can be seen here: https://youtu.be/7k1ZGmSTWBQ . Clearly beyond the capabilities or remit of the RSPCA.
Calling the emergency services in was absolutely the right thing to do - stopped the distraught owners from trying anything dangerous - one did nearly fall down the scree slope when the second dog dropped off the crag. So dogs rescued, human casualties avoided and KMRT get to show off their great skills and compassion. Job well done!
Beth Roberts
22 August 2018Seriously Michael?!?!?!
MRT are there to help - human or animal.
It may surprise you to know that some people (myself included) consider their dogs to be 'family', not just a pet or just an animal.
Would your opinion be the same if it were children that had fallen? To most dog owners, children and dogs are one and the same thing.
Silly comment.
Michal Fowler
22 August 2018Kmrt were the best for the job so experienced in what they do and know the terrain they more than likely stopped any further casualties so well done to all of them
Steve howe
22 August 2018What a fatuous comment. Why not a st the MR Team what they thought?
In my 21 years in MR I was only too happy to go on animal call-outs.(preferred it to going out to humans,actually.
Michael Jones
23 August 2018Seriously Beth,
What disgusting thing to say "to most dog owners, children and dogs are one and the same thing".
Yes, to some people (myself included) dogs do 'feel' like part of the family but the same as a child? Absolutely not.
And before anyone decides to jump all over my comment I've had dogs since I was a child. I had dogs when my own children were young and I have two dogs now that it's only my wife and I left at home.
NEWS HEADLINE:
small child and family dog fall into fast flowing river. only by the quick reactions of the father did he manage to save the dog. When asked why he didn't same the little girl he said they're both as important as each other so I chose the dog.
Michael Jones
23 August 2018That should say "save the little girl" not "same"
Mike
28 August 2018Am with Michael Jones here.
I wonder how a human casualty, potentially with life-threatening injuries, would feel in the event that they learned they'd had to wait several hours for a rescue because the team was away stretchering dogs down a hillside. Castle crag is steep with many dangers, and dogs can be idiotic. Did the owners consider whether the chosen route was suitable for their pets, or at the very least keep them on a lead, to avoid this happening? Don't get me started on the irresponsible idiots who let their crazed beasts run wild on nature reserves...
Oh and as for the inane comment "To most dog owners, children and dogs are one and the same thing", err, no. Just no.