Columbia, CA…An alert hiker walking on a trail at Columbia College led to the rescue of a trapped dog. Last night just after 7 PM, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Columbia College Fire (Cal Fire) requesting assistance in rescuing a dog trapped approximately forty feet down in a vertical shaft. A citizen walking on the trail at the college campus had found the shaft and saw the dog trapped in the bottom. Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team was called out to evaluate the shaft for a rescue. Animal control responded to the scene and was able to identify the dog as Jack who was reported missing earlier in the day. Jack’s family had been looking for him in the Columbia area since mid-morning and had posted flyers in Columbia and around the college after contacting animal control.

The Search and Rescue Team, with the help of the Columbia College Fire Department and Columbia Fire Protection District, set up a high angle rope rescue system and lowered one of the team members into the shaft. Jack was placed in a dog rescue harness and was pulled out of the shaft with his rescuer. Jack appeared healthy and uninjured and was reunited with his family at the scene. Thank you to the hiker who helped locate Jack and reported it quickly. A big thanks to all of the Fire personnel for their assistance during the rescue. What started out as a dangerous and scary day for Jack, ended in the warm embrace of his family and new friends.

Source = TCSO