A dog and one of its owners were rescued by firefighters after falling almost 200 feet down a ravine in Seneca County on Sunday.
According to the Ovid Fire Department, the dog had been out for a walk with its owner near the ravine and slipped on fallen leaves or loose vegetation causing it to lose its footing. As the dog began to fall its owner attempted to grab for it and also lost their footing. Both the dog and the owner slid/fell down the ravine approximately 175-200 feet. Due to the age and size of the dog, it was unable to climb out of the ravine. The dog was able to walk with its owner a distance after the fall to a more open area of the ravine in an effort to help first responders have a safer area for retrieval. The dog appeared to sustain only minor injuries, and the owner was not injured. Additional family members were able to climb down the ravine and back out prior to the Ovid Fire Department’s arrival.
The Seneca County Rope Rescue Team was called for a full response to the scene to assist with rescue efforts. Members of the Ovid Fire Department rappelled down with the Stokes Basket. Once the dog was secured Ovid Fire Department and Seneca County Rope Rescue Team were able to bring the dog up the side of the ravine safely. The dog was able to walk upon removal from the basket and was taken to an area to warm up and be checked over by the family.
As a safety precaution, the two individuals in the ravine were assisted by members of the Ovid Fire Department and Seneca County Rope Rescue Team. No injuries were reported during the rescue. All family members were reunited, and all units returned to service by 4:30 p.m.
For more photos of the rescue, please check out the Ovid Fire Department’s Facebook page.
