Colorado Man Spots An Unusual Shape On A Cliff And Freezes When He Realizes What It Actually Is
An elderly man was gazing across the rugged Colorado hills behind his home when something unusual made him pause.
Perched precariously on the edge of a steep cliff was a small, fragile shape. At first glance, he thought it might be a rock or a shadow, but something about it didn’t feel right.
But this wasn’t part of the scenery at all…
It was a dog, stranded on the side of a cliff, with no way up and no room to move.
The second he realized what it was, the man grabbed his phone and called the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR), hoping someone could get there fast.
Officers Barker and Johnson showed up fast, ready to help. But the pup was so far down the cliffside that they needed binoculars just to spot her.
This poor thing was trembling on a narrow ledge, with nothing but a sheer 50-yard drop into the rocky creek below. She looked exhausted, scared, and completely alone.
No one knew how long she had been clinging to that ledge, and every minute that passed made her situation more dangerous. Officer Barker later explained just how delicate the rescue was, sharing in an interview:
“It took two and a half hours total to be able to find out exactly where she was, how we were going to get to her, obtaining the equipment and formulating an exact plan.”
The team secured some mountaineering gear, just what they needed for the tricky terrain. With a harness strapped on and a rappelling rope in hand, Officer Barker began the careful descent down the cliffside.
As soon as the dog saw someone coming for her, her tail started wagging. She wanted to reach him, but every tiny shift sent dirt slipping out from under her paws.
It was just too steep. Still, she didn’t give up.
As soon as Officer Barker reached her, the dog melted into her arms. Officer Johnson quickly lowered a catchpole, and Barker looped it around the pup to make sure she wouldn’t slip any further.
With the safety ropes secure, the slow and steady climb began. Inch by inch, Officer Johnson pulled them both up the cliffside until they finally reached solid ground.
Once safe, they rushed the brave little pup to the shelter for a full checkup. And that’s when they discovered a tag and a microchip.
Her name was Jessie Lee. And incredibly, she hadn’t just gotten lost that day; she’d been missing for two full weeks.
Her home was just a few blocks from the cliff, but somehow, she’d ended up trapped in one of the most dangerous spots imaginable.
The moment the shelter called, her family rushed over, bursting into tears when they saw her safe and sound.
After two scary weeks, Jessie Lee was finally heading back where she belonged: home.
