Ever wonder how we get a dog safely back to the top of a cliff? This past Saturday November the 7th, our Technical Rescue Team spent the day working on rigging systems and practicing pickoff rescues, one of the most common techniques we use to rescue dogs from cliffs.
So, what’s a pickoff rescue?
A rescuer is lowered down the cliff to reach the dog. Once there, they secure the dog in a rescue harness and attach the dog to the rope system. Both the rescuer and dog are then raised back to the top.
Pickoffs are often our go-to method for dog-over-cliff rescues because they allow us to secure and move the dog relatively quickly, without needing to package them in a rescue litter. When a dog is seriously injured, a different approach, such as using a rescue litter, may be needed.
There’s a lot that goes into making these rescues work, from setting up the rigging systems to communicating clearly and working together as a team. Trainings like this give our responders the chance to practice those skills and work through different scenarios before they’re needed on an actual rescue. It’s all part of being ready when the next call comes in.
A big thank you to Taiga and his owner for trusting us with this adventure! Taiga was such a good boy through it all and, as you can imagine, got plenty of love and attention from everyone!
Click on any of the images below for larger versions.
Ivan – Horse Down in His Stall