What started off as a nice Sunday morning walk ended in a dangerous rescue and a year long recovery for Penny. My brother and I were talking as Penny investigated her surroundings. We were just going to take a picture, when a squirrel chirped from a nearby tree that sent Penny instantly in it's direction. The squirrel ran from the tree and we realized it was heading towards the cliff edge, with Penny in close pursuit.
We looked on in disbelief as Penny attempted to stop but fell over the ledge plummeting 40 feet to the ice below, letting out one cry, then silence.
The Whole episode seemed to happen in slow motion as I thought I was watching my dog fall to her death. After lying still for a moment, she suddenly sprang to life in a desperate attempt to stand up.
My brother carefully climbed down the cliff and moved her away from the pool of water she was lying in. With the spring thaw, the edge of the river was beginning to melt and the ice was very unsafe with very strong currents underneath.
Moments later, we were still trying to figure out what to do, when a man came walking along with his son and dog. As miracles go, he was a mountain climber, and had climbing gear in his truck!
By the time Penny and my brother were back on top of the cliff, the entire rescue had taken about an hour. Don't know what happened to the squirrel, it definitely was not lying on the ice!
We rushed to the vets where Penny was treated for shock, a bruised lung, and pulled tendons on her right leg. Two days later she was sent home after breaking out of the kennel. The vet was concerned the shock would overcome her so was surprised at her obvious will to live!
The amazing small things like the way Penny fell just inches from black ice, the condition of the ice that cushioned her blow, the climber who just happened to come by at the right moment, or the fact that she survived, all seem like a collection of small miracles.
Today, Penny is older and I hope wiser! She now has arthritis but it is manageable, and yes, still chases squirrels!
