Officer Rappels Down Ravine to Rescue Puppy

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An animal control officer with the Department of Animal Services got to put her rappelling skills to use after a nearly 3-month-old puppy fell 100 feet into a ravine in Pauma Valley.

The poor pup’s cries could be heard from the top of the ravine, but a rescue was tricky thanks to the steep incline of the terrain. Animal Control Officer Denise Gove, who is also a member of the San Diego County Animal Response Team, was called out to help get the small German shepherd up safely. SDCART is made up of trained volunteers and animal control officers.

“I called Denise and explained the situation. She expressed that she has been trained in rappelling and was eager to respond,” said Lt. Loren Bunnell, who took the original call from dispatch. “I really didn’t realize the enormity of the situation until I saw the photos afterwards.”

The ravine is estimated to be about 200 feet from edge to the bottom. Luckily for the puppy, a large bush 100 feet down broke her fall.

“[The puppy] clung onto that bush until Officer Gove dropped from the sky to rescue,” Bunnell said.

Bunnell said the puppy would not have survived if she had fallen to the bottom of the rocky ravine.

The 10-week old pup is considered a stray and is doing just fine at the County’s animal care facility in Carlsbad. She will be available for adoption July 15. For anyone interested in adopting the ravine puppy, her animal ID is #1728061.

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