Every dog has its day - with a bit of help from the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service
The number of people venturing into the wilderness without proper equipment has dramatically decreased since the end of the tourist season. However, the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) always has a lot on its plate, and if it's not people getting stranded in the mountains, it's dogs falling into ravines.
On January 14, a young couple was taking a walk along the Blue Lake in Imotski, with their Alaskan Malamute in tow. At one point, the playful dog jumped over a stone wall and stumbled down the hill, some 30 metres below the trail. The couple reached out to HGSS for help, and chance had it multiple rescue teams were holding a drill in the very same area.
Fortunately, the dog got caught in a tree instead of falling all the way down to the lake, so the rescue team made its way to the poor pup and quickly inspected it for injuries. The dog was unharmed and delivered back to its owners an hour after the rescue service was first alerted.
A seemingly harmless walk could have led to a tragedy, stated HGSS, advising their followers to keep their pets on a leash when they're out in public - primarily for their own safety, but also to ensure safety of people and other animals. Here are some photos of the exciting rescue mission, courtesy of HGSS:
