This is one instance in which sad puppy eyes really come in handy. A four-year-old Golden Retriever, "Truman," was rescued by Los Angeles Sheriff Department's (LASD) volunteer deputies Sunday. The dog was suffering from dehydration and cut paws while hiking Switzer Falls with his owner, according to the station's press release.
The Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station received a call at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday and assigned reserve deputies from the LASD Montrose Search and Rescue Team to the mission.
Rescuers hiked deep into the Angeles National Forest, placed Truman on a gurney and wheeled the poor guy all the way to his owner’s vehicle.
Deputy Guillermina Saldana told The Huffington Post that the department usually refers calls for animals to the LA County Department of Animal Care & Control. However, the rescue of Truman was an exception, she said, "because it was in mountainous terrain [and] it would be easier and faster for our reserves to go down and get the dog."
She explained that hiker rescues are much more common than animal rescues for the reserves. However, in addition to dog rescues, she said the volunteer deputies have been assigned to rescues horses who are stuck in mud.
If you or your dog is in danger while hiking, you should call 911, Saldana said. The department also advises hikers to consider the hazards to their dog's paws on hot days and rough terrain before taking their four-legged friends on long hikes.
Reserve sheriff’s deputies volunteer their help for $1 a year. There are over 850 reserve deputies across Los Angeles County, and LASD's reserve Search and Rescue teams conducted over 450 search and rescue missions last year.
Truman is now home, and his veterinarian said he will soon recover. Click through photos below to see photos of Mr. Truman's long day:
