On another sweltering August afternoon, WCSART received a 911 call for a hiker whose Rottweiler was experiencing a medical emergency. The hiker provided his general location and with the locator link that was sent to his mobile device, WCSART knew their exact location.
Team members arrived after hiking on Swift Camp Creek Trail. The owner had wisely built a shade for the Rottweiler, but the heat left the dog unable to walk. Although the extreme heat and humidity may have played a role, the dog had a preexisting medical condition that presented itself during their overnight camping trip.
Team members packaged the dog in the stokes basket and began a long and difficult carry-out. The heat, humidity and steep trail impacted our team members. As a result, we contacted our friends from Powell County Search & Rescue for additional manpower.
Around 4 p.m., crews exited the trail. A team member provided advanced care prior to departure to a vet clinic. The team hiked nearly four miles to conclude the rescue.
