‘Miracle Dog’ Survives Nine Days In Washington Backcountry After Falling Over Ridge

Aug 14, 2020 by apost team

Dogs are remarkably intrepid. They can endure so much and still come out on the other side. Usually, they'll even have a smile on their furry faces. Penny is one such pup who beat the odds and survived the unthinkable only to still be smiling when it was all over.

Penny is only three years old, but this mini Australian labradoodle mix beat the odds. As reported by The Oregonian, she survived a harrowing nine-day escapade through Mount Shuksan's backcountry. Now that she is safe at home with her family in Portland, her owners tell the tale of her resourcefulness.

Her owners always saw the West Hill's pup as prissy and petite. The 20-pound puppy was the last animal they expected to be able to survive in spite of best efforts that included the use of a drone, a psychic's telepathic powers, and even rescue workers who rappelled down to find her. And yet, Penny beat the odds, defied her owner's expectations of her, and survived an unexpected peril that really came out of nowhere.

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According to Penny's owner, Kim Spiro, it all started on July 31. Spiro and her friends went on a backpacking trek through Mount Shuksan's backcountry. This wilderness is located in the heart of northern Washington and is known to be a great spot for hikers and is also typically pet friendly — if you stick to the path.

As they celebrated Spiro's 50th birthday by hiking, Penny accompanied her owner and friends while leashed. Taking a break from the hike, Spiro unleashed her pup for just a moment, not realizing that there was an incredibly dangerous cliff that led to a canyon that dropped 600 miles down only a few feet away. Without missing a beat, Penny, a dog who is normally reserved and timid, went running after a rock and right over the edge.

Spiro and her friends began frantically calling after Penny and looking over the edge for the beloved dog. They hiked over a mile down toward where Penny went over the ledge but couldn't see or hear the fluffy white dog. Needless to say, Spiro and her friends were absolutely devastated. They assumed the worst but could not help but have hope.

Things changed the next morning. Spiro and her friends thought they heard Penny as they hiked near where the pup fell over the day before. The friends had no cell phone signal, but they couldn't stop the search. They hiked back to where they finally had signal and reached out to the Washington State Animal Response Team and Summit to Sound, two organizations who specialize in hiking rescues.

They searched for over a day. They got drones involved. They inquired with a psychic. They were devastated. Friends back in Portland were devastated too, as Penny was a bit of a neighborhood celebrity. Everyone was sending cards and flowers and even food, as you would with the loss of a loved one. But as it turned out, all was not lost after all.

Nine days after Penny went missing, Penny was found. A climber named Helaina Hurwitz spotted her by the trailhead parking lot. She immediately contacted the rangers who were well aware of the missing dog. Shortly thereafter, Penny returned to Spiro. The reunion was a sight for sore eyes. Spiro no longer looks at Penny as a timid, frail dog but rather a very capable animal with an unbreakable spirit.

“She’s a little fluffy dog that we used to think was a West Hills prima donna but now we know she’s a backcountry badass,” said Spiro.

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