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Loading...Abandoned Dog Rescued From Colorado Mountaintop
A German shepherd dog was found injured and abandoned August 11 on the Mount Bierstadt mountain range, part of the majestic Rockies, in Colorado. Two hikers, Scott and Amanda Washburn, discovered the dog they came to call Lucky, with bloody paws, dehydrated and unable to walk. “My wife broke down crying at the thought of leaving the dog to die,” said Washburn.
Mount Bierstadt Mountain Range
The Rescue
Mount Bierstadt is over 14,000 feet in elevation. The Washburns were unable to carry the 112 pound dog down the mountain. They applied bandages to her paws in an attempt to help the dog walk, but she still refused.
Determined to try and save the suffering pooch, Washburn posted a photo they had taken of her on a social website for hikers called 14ers.com — a local reference to the Mount Bierstadt mountain range having an altitude of 14,000 feet. Within a day, people had volunteered to attempt a rescue. A group of eight people organized and made a plan. On Monday, August 13, they hiked to where she was last seen and eventually found the dog in almost the same exact spot.
The round trip took about nine hours. All volunteers were able to get the dog down the mountain with no injuries. Putting Lucky in a specially made backpack enabled the dog to be carried off the mountain in safety. Once at the bottom, she managed to walk to a vehicle. The GSD was taken to a veterinarian for examination and discovered not to have any fractures or internal injuries. Dehydration and cuts on her paws was the extent of it.
Read more: 14ers.com, amanda washburn, animal cruelty, animal rescue, animal rights, animal welfare, animals, anthony ortalani, colorado, dog, german shepherd, lucky, missy, Mount Bierstadt, Rocky Mountains, scott washburn, social media
Photos of Missy/Lucky from Facebook
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Recent Comments from Causes
And yet...it's precisely what you're doing here. You're beating us all with fanciful would-be interpretations…
Thank you for the info.
I think it's high time the word "feminist" was replaced by "humanist".
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263 comments
+ add your ownWe need to teach children from a young age to be responsible for the lives of the animals they encounter and what to do (and NOT do) in a variety of situations and where to get help when they need it. I am thankful that Lucky is in the hands of someone who can truly care for him and I am so very grateful that the rescuers cared enough to risk their lives for another.
Hit send too soon.
The "young boy" was actually 19 years old. He was an inexperienced hiker, but NOT a small child. Mr. Ortolani was totally unprepared for such a trek & had he done a bit more research, he would have realized that area is NOT dog or child friendly.
The court case was decided last fall & John, one of the rescuers adopted Missy.
The "young boy" was in fact, 19 years old. NOt
I think that Mr.Ortalani didn'd want to hurt Missy.I think that he was in panic beause of the storm and the youg boy so he did something silly and he regrets this really.I was not there so I don't know how it happened.The thing that I know that if it's my dog I call my friends and I return to save my dog as soon as possible.He didn't do it. I hope that the court will take a good decision.Thanks to Mr. and Mrs.Washburn and all the rescuers to save Missy.
Hope every dog is lucky
I am so glad for Missy. Tnx for sharing
Blessings to all the volunteers who helped this dog. You are angels on earth.
He does not deserve to have Missy back. When you abandon a dog, no matter what the circumstances, you give up the right to have that animal back. I would not ever even think of leaving my animal.
Thank you to all the wonderful, caring people who saved Missy and went out of their way for a living creature in need of attention.
Elsa G. .... do you mind sharing that site where you found the story? Thank you.
I do NOT care what it would have took, I would NOT have left my dog on that mountain and if I had I would have been up at the crack of dawn with the army ready to go back and get her! Please do not let that idiot have his dog back ... please let the Washburn's adopt her!
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