In early June, firefighters in Bend, Oregon were asked to help with a pet rescue. Despite the well-documented cliché, the call was not for a cat stuck in a tree.
It was for a dog stuck on a cliff face.
“Can you spot our patient?” Bend Fire & Rescue asked in a recent Instagram post. “If you look closely, you’ll see Maverick, a dark-colored doggo who perfectly blended into the cliffside where he became stranded overnight after his leash broke while on a walk with his owner.”
“After tirelessly searching, his owner spotted him on the cliff and called for help when they realized the situation he’d found himself in,” the fire department explained.
When crews arrived on the scene, they found Maverick on a narrow cliff ledge roughly 25 feet above the ground — about the height of a two-story building.
“Frightened and unsure, Maverick had tucked himself into a recessed area, making him both difficult to see and challenging to access,” the fire department wrote.
Using a high-angle rope system, one of the firefighters was lowered down to the ledge. After coaxing Maverick out of his hiding spot, the responder was able to secure a leash on him and gently guide him to the top.
“At Bend Fire & Rescue, we welcome every opportunity to sharpen our skills,” the fire department wrote. “Calls like this allow us to put those skills into action when it matters most — even with our four-legged community members.”
“We recognize that animals are family, and we treat them as patients with the same care, compassion, and professionalism we provide to all those we serve.”
The Bend Fire & Rescue post ended with their reassurance that Maverick was safe and sound.
“We’re happy to report Maverick is safe and back home where he belongs!” They wrote. “Big shout out to our responders for saving this good boy.”
Firefighters and first responders are trained to handle a wide array of scenarios far beyond housefires.
Last year, on January 9, 2025, firefighters in Colorado faced their own unique challenge: pulling a horse out of a frozen pond.
“LFRA responded to a large animal ice rescue late this afternoon on South County Road 13,” the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority shared on Facebook. “A horse found a way through a fence and onto a frozen pond, which unfortunately could not hold the weight of the horse.”
The firefighters had to work quickly, donning “ice rescue suits” and braving frigid waters to break up the ice with axes and sledgehammers. After a pathway was carved into the ice, the horse was gently guided to the pond’s edge.
“The rescued horse was warming up and recovering as crews picked up equipment and returned to service,” the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority wrote.
The community responded with their well wishes.
“So glad that you guys are dedicated to rescuing any living creature!” one local responded.
“That’s a wonderful story, with a great ending, another person wrote. “What a wonderful group of rescuers.”
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Header image via Bend Fire & Rescue
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