This is the kind of story we need – The Rescue of Cliff the Dog
With information from Jeff Fontana, Stan Bales, video by Laura Johnson and Cheyenne Ratkey
The Susanville Fire Department sprang into action Saturday afternoon, when a 9-1-1 call came into dispatch reporting that a dog was trapped on a ledge twenty feet below the top of Pigeon Cliffs, where they run along Highway 36 west of town.
A whole host of first-responders showed up to help the stuck canine – the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office was first to arrive – followed by crews from Susan River Fire Protection District and Cal-FIRE who were dispatched to investigate and ascertain if a rescue could be performed, but it was determined that it wouldn’t be possible with personnel and equipment on scene.
The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office called the Susanville City Fire Department for help. Firefighters, after assessing the scene, determined that someone would have to be lowered down to the dog.
The plan was to have him secure the dog and then both of them would be lowered the rest of the way down Pigeon Cliff.
Stan Bales, who was on-scene for the rescue described how it all played out, “Susanville Fire Department put an experienced guy, Engineer Zack Hoffman, on two ropes and belayed him down to the dog. Then he used a strong fabric rescue blanket with webbing loops to secure the dog to himself with carabiners.”
Other fire crew members then lowered Hoffman and the dog to the base of the cliff.
It was Hoffman who gave the dog the, at least temporary, moniker, of ‘Cliff.’
Susanville Fire Captain Dale Johnson drove the dog to Lassen Veterinary in Johnstonville where he was checked out and found to be unharmed, with no broken bones or injuries.
He was then taken to Lassen County animal shelter until his owner can be found or he is put up for adoption.
The Susanville City Fire Department thanked the Susan River Fire Protection District, Cal-FIRE and the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department for their part in the rescue.
The video was taken by Sheriff Sergeant Laura Johnson and others on scene. The video was edited with music by Susanville Fire Department Secretary Cheyenne Ratkey.
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