What would you do for your dog?

I can relate to doing anything to save my dogs; which is why I don't take them kayaking on rivers with me. If the boat tipped and they were headed for a log jam, I would probably do something really stupid (like get too close to it)....

This update today: Autopsy report is in

We're all entitled (or likely) to do something that doesn't make sense at least once in our lifetime. Trying to save a best friend is as good a reason as any. So sorry for his friends and family...

I heard on the news that the dog was found in the parking lot where the owner's truck had been parked.

I would not have run off in the middle of the night. I would have kept lights on at the campsite over night to help the dog find its way back to camp. At dawn, I would have gone looking with proper gear, directions, etc. If the vehicle was away from the campsite, I would check there as soon as reasonably possible.

I camp with my dogs all the time. There are certain things I always do:

1. They are always leashed or tied when outside of the RV. With the 2 dogs, I use a double leash so they are always leashed together - reduces the chance that one will freak out and take off.

2. They always have a "camping ID" on their collars (which are bright orange) that includes the RV's plate number, my cell phone number, and my campsite number and dates I will be there. I use those little keychain pill containers and slip a piece of paper with the info inside for the IDs. Easily changed with new campgrounds/sites.

3. I have made sure that they "know" their RV and SUV so that they are most likely to find them if they lose me. That's the first place I would check if I lost the dogs away from the vehicle.

I agree with kcmoedoe - I would do everything possible to find my dogs, but I wouldn't be careless in it. I accepted a responsibility to keep my dogs safe, healthy and happy, and I take that very serious - but getting myself hurt or killed on a wild goose chase isn't going to help the dogs at all.

It's hard to understand, alright. Although he was found only 3/4 of a mile from where he and the buddy had camped for the night. I am picturing him running up that rocky embankment on adrenaline, maybe hearing the dog, and not realizing the sheer drop on the other side. He didn't go far, but was concealed from all searchers' view for two weeks. The dog has been described as a German shorthair/Vizsla. No word on whether the dog had ever been on one of these hikes before. so tragic.

I..... I am in the camp that thinks there's something not being said here. There will be a tox screen, I assume. That takes six weeks. I think a lot more would already have been said on the topic but people don't want to say anything unkind about a firefighter.

I would certainly go looking for my dog(s). I would not make an extended search alone, wearing nothing but shorts, in the dark, in terrain like that. This is not a chihuahua... it's a lab, and is going to outrun a human unless the dog decides to stop. There's just no point to a footrace.

As far as climbing in the dark in that state (no shoes, no shirt, no light), that's not devotion, that's insanity. I'd do damn near anything for my pups, but getting your neck broken serves them not at all.

It reminds me a lot of those two teenagers that went out and got lost (high on meth) and ended up out there for days and delirious. When behavior does not make sense, usually there is a reason.

dave17352 wrote:
There is no way I would go more than few yards from camp in the dark. This is really kind of a crazy story. I wonder if more will come out. I have had many dogs and take good care of them, but I myself do not consider them as I would a human, not even close. Not to say I haven't become very fond of our dogs in the past.

Yes, I too wonder if there isn't more to the story. Too many odd things happened. Very hard to understand how a guy could get so separated from his friend that they couldn't re-connect. Very hard to understand why you would run off into the woods barefoot. Very hard to understand why an experienced person would fall to their death. One of those is understandable. Two of them an unlikely co-incidence. All three, getting to be hard to believe. Foul play or a situation involving mind altering alcohol or narcotics would go a long way to tying everything together. Not saying it didn't happen exactly as the guy's friend described, but it sure merits a lot more investigation. As for going after the dog, I would do anything in my power to try and recover my dog, but choosing one out of a possible 360 degrees and running blindly into the night isn't a course of action, it is just plain foolish. Calling the dog and doing a slow, thorough, premeditated search with help from your friend is the proper plan.

There is no way I would go more than few yards from camp in the dark. This is really kind of a crazy story. I wonder if more will come out. I have had many dogs and take good care of them, but I myself do not consider them as I would a human, not even close. Not to say I haven't become very fond of our dogs in the past.

I love my dog but if I called it and it failed to come back I sure would not go rushing into the night trying to find it. "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back it's yours. If not, they never were".

When it comes to pets sometimes logic takes a back seat. The urge to get the animal back quickly takes priority over all else. If the animal failed to return when called. Given the terrain and my unfamiliarity with it, I would have done as someone else said and wait till daylight. This dog was not helpless as this one was found 10 days later according to the OP.

The question is "What wouldn't I do for my Dog". We don't have kids, so our Dog to us, is well, our kid.....there is nothing I wouldn't do for our pup. Sold our house, rented an apartment, ended up relocating jobs because of the move, all because the dogs monthly medical bills were in the $700 a month range, once the dog passed, bought a new house, got another dog.....would do it again