COOS COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE—After a gruelling 16-hour rescue mission in Mount Jefferson, New Hampshire, a stranded, injured dog and his owners were successfully rescued.
Bruno went hiking with his owners in Mount Jefferson in July, but the ragged terrain and the hot, sharp rocks didn't do his paws any good.
He was hurt, his paws were cut, and because of the pain, he refused to walk any more.
This was the dilemma faced by his owners, who didn't plan for an overnight hike and were low on supplies.
One stayed with Bruno, while the other went down to ask for help.
Since he was a large dog, carrying him in the back while descending the steep trail solo wasn't a good idea.
In came the rescuers.
About 15 people responded to an online post by Bruno's owner asking for help.
One of the responders was fellow dog owner Michael Piesniewski.
“Me being a dog owner myself, just understanding that they were probably in a pretty tight spot, I just knew I had to respond,” Piesniewski told WMUR-9. “So, I got in my truck, and I drove up from Manchester.”
Zippy, another rescuer, reported in a separate interview with NECN that Bruno and his owners were also fairly dehydrated when they arrived.
He helped carry Bruno himself on the narrow part of the trail.
“I picked him up and put him on my back with the harness, and we made it like that, slowly but surely made it across, until we got to the Cap's Ridge junction when it got a little wider,” Zippy said.
Once there, two groups with six volunteers each carried Bruno in a rescue sling alternately for 2.5 miles down the mountain.
“Bruno was just fantastic the whole time,” Zippy said.
“There were a couple of times he would look at me, and he would grumble if I touched his paw while I was bandaging it, but other than that, he would just lay there and know we were there to help.”
Piesniewski, on the other hand, recalled how wonderful the experience was despite the stressful situation.
“It was simultaneously humbling and gave me a sense of pride at the same time,” he said. “It was just a complete collaborative effort. There were no egos involved. Everybody that was there was there for the sole purpose of getting Bruno back home.”
It was not the first time for Bruno and his owners to go hiking. But this unfortunate incident proved that even the most planned trips can take an unexpected turn.
Because of the extreme heat and unfortunate incidents like falling, there was a rising number of hiking-related injuries and deaths.
Holly Mokrzecki of the Granite State Dog Recovery reminded pet owners to always prepare before hiking.
She said you can still bring your dog along if they're physically able, but be wary of the granite that can tear up their feet.
“Please, please be prepared before you hit the New Hampshire mountains,” she said. “A lot of these people that bring their dogs, dogs are not conditioned to the mountains of New Hampshire.”
If you plan a hiking trip with your Fido, it's best to read up or refresh your memory with things you need to know and prepare.
Here are a couple of articles about hiking with dogs to get you started:
- A Basic Guide to Hiking with Dogs
- Dog Hiking Gear Must-Haves: What You Need When Hiking with Dogs
- 14 Preparation Tips for Hiking With Your Dog
Mount Jefferson is the third-highest peak in the state and one of the area's most popular hiking spots.
