A hunting dog named Storm, who got trapped in a cave in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains after falling from a 35-foot shaft, was successfully rescued.
The rescue mission was carried out by the Waldens Creek Volunteer Fire Department (WCVFD) and Sevier County Rescue Squad.
In a post shared on social media by the WCVFD, they revealed that their Rope Technicians Assistant and the Sevier County Rescue’s Rope Technician worked together in carrying out the rescue plan. The rescue plan involved using a high-angle rope system to repel the shaft to find the dog and lift him out to safety.
The Great Smoky Mountains is America’s most visited national park and one of the few national parks with dog-friendly trails. The park’s guideline stipulates that dog parents must keep their dogs on a leash, which should not exceed 6 feet in length. They must also be on the lookout for black bears.
After successfully getting Storm out of the cave, the WCVFD shared a photo of him and his rescuers. “We are thrilled that Storm made it out safely,” they captioned the post. Storm seemed alright, and there was no report that he sustained any injury from the fall.
Image Credit: Waldens Creek Volunteer Fire Department