SAR Ground Team assists with a down dog on Trail

August 15, 2009

The day started with an organized hike from Wright's Lake to Enchanted Pools and included a navigational training exercise. View of Enchanted pools

SAR Folks,

You've probably seen Alan's email regarding a dog rescue at Wright's Lake. You may have even overheard some of the 805 traffic. Here's the story.

About 4 p.m. today Ryan Wimmer and I were homebound on Wright's Lake Road in Rescue 3 when a gentlemen in an SUV flagged us down. He said his dog was in some kind of medical trouble up on a hiking trail. The dog couldn't move. Could we help? I told him to lead us there.

We followed him to the Lyon's Creek trailhead. There, he told us the dog was no ordinary canine, but a Great Pyrenees - a huge breed. This particular example weighed 160 pounds! And, though I had secretly hoped the dog would recover by the time we got there, it was still immobilized up the trail.

Though I was skeptical, the owner assured us that the dog was docile and would tolerate being carried out. So, Plan A was to drive in as far as we could, hike to the dog, package him in a Stokes litter and carry him down to the vehicles. However, the whole plan depended on getting through the locked gate across the Lyon's Creek Trail. We radioed the Man Who Knows Everyone, Frank Yost, he made some phone calls, and it wasn't long before a cheerful USFS gal named Amanda showed up with the keys.

Meanwhile, we were getting advice from all over. Alan Fudge looked up the correct aspirin dosage for a 160 pound dog. He warned us against Ibuprofin or Tylenol. Dave McCracken suggested putting a blanket on the dog to during the carryout to prevent it from getting agitated - this really works! Deanna and Bill Hart and their two guests drove down from Wright's lake to volunteer as litter-bearers. (There were others who helped - sorry I can't remember everyone.)

The rest went according to plan. We packaged the dog almost like a human, with backboard, spider straps, and Stokes litter. The carryout took perhaps 30 minutes, including 4 or 5 rest stops. By about 6:30 the dog was on his way to his vet in El Dorado Hills.

Helping a dog in trouble is a little out of our normal line, but this was a very satisfying afternoon's work.

Paul

Spot Activation

On August 14th, 2009, EDSO OES was notified of a 911 Spot Satellite Messenger msg from the Rubicon Springs area. SAR Coordinators, Deps. Morgan and Cathey initiated events that led to a successful SAR.

The SPOT was registered to an outdoor adventure company in Coloma. The coordinators learned that the individuals at risk in the travel party included an obese forty-something male and a teenager with diabetes.

Working with the USFS, CalStar was dispatched to the beaconed coordinates. The teenager had experienced a diabetic reaction and was airlifted to Barton Memorial Hospital at S. Lake Tahoe.

Several SAR members were ready to head out, but the SAR successfully concluded w/o a volunteer callout.