Dog Has To Be Put Down After Falling 40 Feet Off Pocket Wilderness Bluff

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

photo by Brent McDonald, News Channel 9

A dog had to be put down despite rescue efforts on Wednesday afternoon after a 40-foot fall at the Pocket Wilderness.

Mowbray Mountain Volunteer Fire personnel responded to the Pocket Wilderness around 1:15 p.m. A 65-year-old Soddy Daisy man called 911 reporting his dog had fallen off the trail. He said the two of them were hiking at the Pocket Wilderness when he noticed his 150-pound German Shepherd was showing signs of dehydration. He proceeded to give all of his reserved water to the dog. Eventually, the man started to become dehydrated as well so the two of them started to hike to a stream to rehydrate when the dog slipped and fell 40 feet off a cliff.

Due to the extensive heat and humidity, Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department personnel requested a mutual aid response for additional personnel to respond to the scene. Among the agencies were Walden's Ridge Emergency Services, Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department, Hamilton County Emergency Services and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue.

Several rescue crews and Hamilton County EMS hiked into the woods and met up with the man around 2:30 p.m. Hamilton County EMS tended to his medical needs while the other crew attended to the injured dog.

Rescue personnel spoke with veterinarian personnel in Soddy Daisy to give a report of the dog's condition. The veterinarian determined the dog had sustained serious injuries from the fall and advised to euthanize the dog. After the dog owner agreed to the veterinarian's decision, he spent a few minutes with the dog and began to walk two miles with rescue personnel to the ATV vehicle.

He was driven to Hamilton County EMS personnel who were waiting to transport him to Erlanger Hospital for further evaluations.

Final time on extrication efforts was 5:15 p.m.