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Frantic Dog Owner Calls 911 After Pet Tumbles 20 Feet Off Mountain Trail, Rescuers Say

A panicked dog owner called 911 for help after they saw their dog tumble off a trail and get stuck on a steep Hawaii mountainside, rescuers said.

The scary fall happened about 45 minutes into their hike on the Waimano Trail in Pearl City at about 10 a.M. Saturday, March 2, the Honolulu Fire Department said in a news release.

Rescuers used the caller's geolocation to spot the dog from a helicopter and get into positions to rescue the pet from the steep mountain slope, rescuers said. They rigged a rope hauling system to hoist the dog back onto the trail.

The dog was not injured in the fall, rescuers said. Once the dog and owner were reunited, they hiked down the trail on their own.

Rescuers reminded hikers to keep their dogs on a short leash while hiking.

"An off-leash dog can disappear out of sight, and if you can't see what your dog is doing, you can't prevent them from getting into trouble, like encountering another animal or eating something dangerous," rescuers said in the news release. "If there are off-leash areas where you are hiking, only let your dog run free if you have verbal control of your dog, you can see your dog at all times, and you've worked on a reliable recall."

Pearl City is about 15 miles northwest of Honolulu.

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Meet Ket, Black Hills Fox Pet Of The Week

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - This week's Black Hills Fox Pet of the Week is a cute cat who might fit "purrfectly" into your home.

Meet Ket, a 1-year-old shorthair male cat who is both shy and playful. Ket is a mix of brown and black colors who has big yellow eyes and will love you forever. He loves to play with his toys, and chase balls around.

If you would like to visit Ket, the Humane Society of the Black Hills is open every Thursday through Tuesday, starting at 11 a.M.

Copyright 2024 KEVN. All rights reserved.

Why Pet Parents Should Consider Never Letting Cats Outside Again

I've owned cats my entire life. I've always had them spayed or neutered, and I keep them inside... Mostly. If you're a cat owner, you know it's near impossible to keep your cat from rushing to the door the second it opens, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit to my own cats sneaking out for a few minutes when I was carrying in groceries.

I also admit to taking them out with me on the patio so they could roll around in the sunshine under my supervision. But for the most part, my cats are indoor cats, and if you want to keep your cat healthy and give it the longest life possible, you should keep your cat indoors too.

Indoor cats live longer.

Anna Hoychuk/Shutterstock

Indoor cats generally live longer than outdoor cats due to reduced risks of accidents, injuries, and exposure to diseases. How much longer? The average lifespan of an indoor cat ranges from 10 to 20 years, whereas cats who go outdoors typically live only 2 to 5 years. If you love your cat and you want to spend a lot of time with it, keep it inside where it's safe.

This won't happen inside.

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Your cat won't get hit by a car if it's an indoor cat. You know why? Cars don't drive in your house. Your cat also won't seek warmth in cold temperatures by crawling into a car engine.

Indoor cats are less likely to pick up creepy crawlies such as fleas, ticks, and intestinal worms, which are commonly found outdoors. No one wants to deal with a flea infestation.

Related: Concrete-Loving Indoor Cat Gets His Own Slab To Roll Around on Inside

They won't end up at the shelter.

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Your cat is way less likely to be picked up by animal control or a good samaritan who thinks they are a stray and brings them into your local shelter if they are an indoor cat. And speaking of your cat being picked up by a stranger, if your cat is inside there won't be any sort of awful person who could pick up your cat and hurt them. It's horrible to think of, but people have been known to hurt or even kill stray cats.

No fighting!

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Your indoor cat can't fight with any feral stray cats, or fall prey to larger predators like coyotes, raccoons, foxes or even dogs. Outdoor cats can get bitten or scratched or even injured and killed by other animals.

On the other side of the coin, outdoor cats kill roughly 1.4-4 billion birds in the United States each year. Indoor cats just watch them from the window and make that weird chirping noise.

Your cat can still go outside, with close supervision. Get your cat a leash and harness, an outdoor playpen, a catio, or a specialty cat stroller for walks around your neighborhood.

We all love our cats and we all want to keep them safe and give them the best life possible. The easiest way to do that is by keeping them indoors. Where they belong.

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