Dog Rescued After Falling 100 Feet Over Colorado Canyon

A dog that fell some 100 feet over a Colorado canyon was rescued with only “minor scrapes and bumps,” officials said.

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office shared a video of the recent rescue this week, which was coordinated with Mesa County Search and Rescue.

According to the sheriff’s office, the dog and her owner were visiting Colorado National Monument, a national park near Grand Junction that sits high on the Colorado Plateau, with sheer-walled desert canyons. After pulling over to admire the view, the dog’s owner opened the door to bring her along.

But the excited pup leaped out of the vehicle and ran straight for the ledge.

“Unfortunately, she didnt understand the concept of the canyon and found herself falling over 100 feet off the edge before landing on a shelf,” the sheriff’s office said.

Deputy Derrick Strauch was nearby and responded to the scene with a dog catching pole, but she had fallen too far for him to reach.

The Mesa County Search and Rescue rope team was called in to assist, and a video shows the team hauling the pup back up to the top of the canyon. The video shows the dog was walking and alert once she was over the ledge. She was taken to an emergency veterinary service, and was found to be uninjured outside of some “minor scrapes and bumps,” MCSAR said.

“If dogs have nine lives like cats, she definitely used one in her adventure on the Monument but we are so grateful to have an amazing Search & Rescue team ready to spring into action for all who need it,” the sheriff’s office said.