A 120-pound Great Dane and her owners were rescued from Mount Macpherson near Revelstoke, B .C., on September 13. Revelstoke Search and Rescue utilized a wheeled stretcher to evacuate the injured dog and her unprepared owners.
A 120-pound Great Dane's ordeal on Mount Macpherson
A senior Great Dane suffered significant paw injuries during a September 13 hike on Mount Macpherson. The 10-year-old dog, weighing approximately 120 pounds, tore her paw pads while navigating the terrain , rendering her unable to walk out of the wilderness. According to Revelstoke Search and Rescue manager Ren Bassette,the dog's owners realized they could not carry the large animal and opted to trigger an emergency SOS function on a mobile phone to request help.
The situation was complicated by the dog's size and the remote nature of the hike. Because the owners were unwilling to leave their pet behind, they remained stranded on the mountain as the environment became increasingly hostile. this incident highlights the specific risks associated with taking giant-breed dogs on rugged terrain without specialized paw protection, as a simple injury to a 120-pound animal can quickly escalate into a full-scale rescue operation.
The wheeled basket stretcher and 1 a.m. extraction
Revelstoke Search and Rescue deployed a wheeled basket stretcher to transport the injured Great Dane safely down the mountain. As reported in the source, the rescue team first bandaged the dog's paws before loading her into the "chariot," which allowed the team to move the heavy animal without further aggravating her injuries. The owners followed behind the stretcher, utilizing extra clothing provided by the rescue team to combat the cold.
The operation was a grueling process that extended well into the night. Ren Bassette stated that the team finally managed to load the dog into the owners' vehicle around 1 a .m. the successful extraction was aided by the quick thinking of another hiker,who encountered the stranded group and lit a small fire to keep the owners and the Great Dane warm while they waited for the professional rescue team to arrive.
The provincial government's stance on non-human rescue reimbursement
The provincial government typically does not provide reimbursement for rescues involving non-human animals, creating a complex financial scenario for Revelstoke Search and Rescue. However, Ren Bassette noted that this specific mission was treated with urgency because the human owners were also in danger. The owners were not equipped to spend the night outdoors, and temperatures on Mount Macpherson were dropping rapidly, transforming a pet rescue into a critical human safety mission.
This case reflects a growing trend in wilderness recreation where the presence of pets can either act as a companion or a liability that traps owners in dangerous conditions. When a pet is too large to be carried, as was the case with this 120-pound dog, the owners' refusal to abandon the animal effectively turns the pet's injury into a human emergency. This blur between animal and human rescue often puts search and rescue teams in a difficult position regarding funding and resource allocation.
The identity of the helpful hiker and the SOS device
Several details regarding the rescue operation on Mount Macpherson remain unverified or omitted from the report. Specifically, the identity of the hiker who provided the life-saving fire remains unknown, and it is unclear if this individual stayed until the rescue team arrived or departed after providing initial aid. Additionally, the source does not specify which brand or model of phone was used to activate the "emergency SOS function," which is a critical piece of information for other hikers considering similar safety technology.
Furthermore, there is no mention of whether the Great Dane was wearing any protective footwear prior to the injury, or if the terrain on Mount Macpherson was unusually abrasive on that day. While Ren Bassette confirmed that all three parties are doing well,the report does not clarify if the owners will face any costs for the rescue, given the provincial government's strict rules on non-human reimbursement.
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