A Russellville couple’s pet was rescued and returned to her owners on Tuesday, July 25th thanks to two Good Samaritans and emergency responders.
Just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening, July 25th, Pope County EMS Rescue 141 and Pope County EMS 136 were dispatched to the area of 377 Gardner Lane to a call of a high angle rescue. After being dispatched to the location, responders checked en route to the call.
Earlier in the day, a dog belonging to an older couple who live in neighborhood had gone missing from their residence. After searching for their miniature golden retriever and speaking to neighbors, they learned no one had seen their beloved pet. As the search for the dog continued, they began to hear the dog barking in the distance and later concluded that the dog was down a steep bluff located behind another residence on Gardner Lane.
Not knowing how to reach the dog, two men decided they would assist in the efforts. The plan was for one of the men to launch his boat into the water below the bluff and the second man would retrieve the dog from where it was located.
The men put the plan in motion and upon reaching the area where the dog could be heard barking, they located her approximately 25 feet from the bottom.
The second man was able to climb up to the dog but once he reached her, he discovered that the bluff was too steep for him to climb back down with her and there was no way to climb up the bluff either. At that time, the 911 call was made seeking assistance.
As the call was dispatched by 911 operators, a RFD Battalion Chief also responded to the location to assist. Once responders were on scene, the Battalion Chief rappelled down the bluff and reached the man and the dog.
After reaching them, they were assisted down the bluff and were met by personnel with Pope EMS Rescue who transported them back to the residence.
Once back up the bluff and at the residence, the dog was reunited with her thankful owners.
The dog was very thirsty after being stranded on the bluff for most of the day, but was uninjured in the incident.
Many thanks were offered to the responders by the dog’s owners and their neighbors following the rescue. After Pope County EMS made contact with the two men, the Good Samaritans, they stated advised that they were not injured as well.
At that time, all responders began packing up their equipment and returned to their stations available for service.
The attached photos and the following video were captured from the rescue efforts on Tuesday evening and as the dog was reunited with her owners.