Many people like to take their dogs on hikes — who wouldn’t want to enjoy nature with their furry best friend? However, hiking trails can also be strenuous on our pets, and sometimes they end up unable to move from exhaustion and pain.
Thankfully, there are people willing to step up and help these tired-out pets get to safety. That was the case recently, as a group of volunteers carried an exhausted golden retriever down a hiking trail.
On September 16, a 7-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever named Crosby accompanied his owner on a hike along the 9-mile Franconia Ridge Loop in New Hampshire.
But 5 miles into the hike, Crosby started slowing down. After resting, the group continued a mile down the trail, but Crosby couldn’t go on, due to exhaustion and damage to his paw pads.
Crosby’s owner didn’t have the equipment to evacuate the dog, so he called NH Paw Rescue for help. A team of volunteers arrived, and with the help of passing hikers, they loaded the golden retriever in a rigid litter and began carrying him down the mountain to the trailhead.
Crosby also received veterinary care, and his paws were treated, bandaged and covered with protective booties.
Photos show Crosby smiling as the team of rescuers carry him to safety, seemingly grateful for the lift:
While it can be fun to have your dog with you on a hike, and it’s easy to assume that animals can naturally handle the outdoors, hiking trails can be strenuous for dogs just like they can be for humans. Some trails have rough terrain or wire fencing that can wear down a dog’s unprotected paw pads.
NH Paw Rescue writes that it is important to keep your pet’s limitations in mind when you go out for a hike, noting that the steep, difficult and lengthy hike was just too much for a large dog like Crosby, and that the temperature was above average for September.
They advise dog owners to be prepared on hikes, packing a dog harness, first aid supplies, vet wrap and paw booties. They also advise checking paw pads frequently, and address any paw pad damage before it gets worse.
Remember to keep your pets safe during hikes! Thank you to all the volunteers who carried Crosby down the mountain to safety!
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