Rescuers go over the edge to save dog stranded on cliff
By Paige Dickerson, Peninsula Daily News
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Clallam County Search and Rescue team volunteers rushed to help on Tuesday when they heard that Mia, a German Shepherd mix, was trapped on a ledge on a cliff some 40 feet down and 80 feet above a beach.
Puyallup resident Dan Absher and his family were visiting his vacation home on Sequim Bay Road.
Mia, owned by his nieces Michelle Davidson and Trisha Sayer, tried to join a group on the beach.
"She tried to take the shortest path, and couldn't handle the steep cliff," Absher said.
"We were lucky, because there was a ledge about half way down she could hang out on."
The ledge where Mia huddled, which is near Absher's home, stuck out at a nearly a 90-degree angle.
"I tried to see what I could do, but we determined it was too dangerous, so I called 9-1-1 and they were nice enough to come help us out," Absher said.
'Great response'
About 10 search and rescue volunteers arrived to help after the dog was reported on the cliff at about 3:20 p.m., Detective Sgt. Lyman Moores said.
"We had a great response from the team," Moores said.
"It was really amazing."
Although the rescue was unusual — most victims are human — the team was happy to help the canine, Moores said.
"If we had not gone out to do something, someone in that family was going to try and go down and get that dog, so it is better for that person to be trained and know what they are doing.
"Otherwise, we could end up rescuing that person too."
Slightly dehydrated after her four-hour stint on the ledge, Mia was otherwise unhurt, and was happy to be back in family's arms, Absher said.
Rappelled to the dog
Mike Tyler and Greg Voyles — two search and rescue team members — rappelled about 40 feet down the cliff and helped her into a dog harness.
Tyler, who owns Greywolf Veterinary Clinic in Sequim, quickly assessed the dog's condition before allowing her to be hoisted up.
"He is limited by how much he can do by liability, but he checked her out and thought she was only dehydrated," Moores said.
The three were then hoisted to safety, Moores said.
"Family members clapped and cheered as their family pet safely reached the top," he said.
Mia is now safely home with her family, Absher said.
Helping Mia was the third time in the past month that the team was dispatched.
Anyone interested in joining the search and rescue team can pick up an application at the Clallam County Sheriff's Department, 223 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: August 06. 2008 9:00PM