Photo Credit ( Freepik )
A recent Emery County, Utah, search and rescue effort ended happily because of the perseverance of the local authorities, a supportive neighbor, and a few dogs.
Two dogs help a mother with dementia
A disturbing allegation was brought to the Emery County Sheriff’s Office last month: a dementia-stricken woman had disappeared after walking the family dog on a mountainside and had not been seen for more than a day. Quickly responding, neighbors and search-and-rescue teams, including Ralph Mitchell, a local, joined the search operations along with an officer from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and his K-9 companion, Kip.
When the officer arrived at the search area, it was already dark and the conditions were difficult. The temperature had risen to about 100 degrees during the day and plummeted to a freezing 55 degrees at night. K-9 Kip, a licensed and experienced human tracker, started working in spite of these obstacles and the large number of search professionals present.
Kip and the police heard a dog barking close to some cabins at around three in the morning. They approached the sound, thinking it may be the missing woman’s dog, but they discovered nothing. Ralph Mitchell gave a critical tip the next day. The day before, he had also heard barking originating from an uninhabited location. Looking through the local surveillance footage, they saw the woman and her dog strolling towards the east.
After that, Mitchell, Kip, and the police separated to conduct a search in that direction. They heard barking once again as they ascended the mountainside. They found the missing woman after investigating the sound. She had lost her shoes and was severely dehydrated, but other than that, she was in good shape with only a few minor bruises and scratches.
After offering her his water, Mitchell left to find a cell phone signal so he could call the sheriff. She was taken to a nearby hospital for medical assessment, and the officer remained with her until more assistance could be provided.
“In the end, her dog’s barking to notify nearby searchers ultimately saved her life. The Utah DWR stated, “We’re so happy she was found safe.”
A recent Emery County, Utah, search and rescue effort ended happily because of the perseverance of the local authorities, a supportive neighbor, and a few dogs.
Two dogs help a mother with dementia
A disturbing allegation was brought to the Emery County Sheriff’s Office last month: a dementia-stricken woman had disappeared after walking the family dog on a mountainside and had not been seen for more than a day. Quickly responding, neighbors and search-and-rescue teams, including Ralph Mitchell, a local, joined the search operations along with an officer from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and his K-9 companion, Kip.
When the officer arrived at the search area, it was already dark and the conditions were difficult. The temperature had risen to about 100 degrees during the day and plummeted to a freezing 55 degrees at night. K-9 Kip, a licensed and experienced human tracker, started working in spite of these obstacles and the large number of search professionals present.
Kip and the police heard a dog barking close to some cabins at around three in the morning. They approached the sound, thinking it may be the missing woman’s dog, but they discovered nothing. Ralph Mitchell gave a critical tip the next day. The day before, he had also heard barking originating from an uninhabited location. Looking through the local surveillance footage, they saw the woman and her dog strolling towards the east.
After that, Mitchell, Kip, and the police separated to conduct a search in that direction. They heard barking once again as they ascended the mountainside. They found the missing woman after investigating the sound. She had lost her shoes and was severely dehydrated, but other than that, she was in good shape with only a few minor bruises and scratches.
After offering her his water, Mitchell left to find a cell phone signal so he could call the sheriff. She was taken to a nearby hospital for medical assessment, and the officer remained with her until more assistance could be provided.
“In the end, her dog’s barking to notify nearby searchers ultimately saved her life. The Utah DWR stated, “We’re so happy she was found safe.”
