Dog falls into crevasse, prompting rope rescue

A dog that jumped over the wall at the Peter Skene Ogden Wayside on Wednesday fell about 10 feet down in the Crooked River Canyon – but it was where it landed, inside a five-foot-deep crevasse, that made for a trickier rope rescue, authorities said.

According to an Oregon State Parks ranger, the owner of the Australian shepherd was trying to adjust the dog’s leash when it got loose, ran toward the canyon and jumped over the wall, said Capt. Sean Hartley of Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue.

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies asked the CRR agency to assist in the rescue of the dog, which could be heard barking but could not be seen, Hartley said.

CRR Fire & Rescue and Jefferson County Fire District No. 1 each sent two members trained in technical rope rescue to the scene. They found the dog in a crevasse that was about one foot wide and five feet deep near the canyon’s edge. The dog appeared unhurt but was unable to get out on its own, Hartley said.

Two team members attached to safety lines were able to reach the crevasse. One was able to climb in and lift the dog to safety.

Once safely back on top, the dog was reunited with its grateful owner, a rescue that took about 30 minutes (and a handful of dog treats) to complete.

“It’s not every day we get this kind of rescue,” Hartley said. “We recognize pets are family members, and we are as happy as the owner at the outcome of this call.”