Dog and Owner Rescued After Falling Over 175 Feet Down Ravine in New York

Mar. 15, 2025

A dog and his owner are safe after they both slid down more than a 175-foot ravine in rural New York State on Sunday, authorities said.First responders arrived at the scene around 3 p.m. local time in Ovid to rescue the senior dog, who was stuck at the bottom of the ravine,the Ovid Fire Department posted on Facebook.The animal had slipped on “fallen leaves or loose vegetation” while on a walk with his owner, who had tried to catch him before the two lost their footing and tumbled to the bottom of the ravine, authorities said.The owner, who was not publicly identified, was uninjured in the incident, but the dog received minor injuries and needed to be rescued since he was unable to climb out of the ravine due to his age and size, the fire department said.Emergency personnel from the Seneca County Rope Rescue Team used a basket to pull the dog to safety on Sunday, officials said.Ovid Fire DepartmentIn a video and images shared from the rescue, emergency personnel from the Seneca County Rope Rescue Team used a basket to pull the dog to safety.Eventually, the dog was able to walk and was taken to an area to warm up before he and his family members were reunited, authorities said.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Ovid Fire DepartmentThe rescue won the approval of many in the community on social media, as commenters flooded the department’s post with gratitude after the happy ending.“Thank you and God Bless you for caring and rescuing these souls,” one woman wrote, while another said, “It’s awesome to see our Amish community firefighters come out on a Sunday their special day.”The area is home to more than 12,000 Amish and Mennonite families,according to New York Upstate.Ovid is about 60 miles southwest of Syracuse.

A dog and his owner are safe after they both slid down more than a 175-foot ravine in rural New York State on Sunday, authorities said.

First responders arrived at the scene around 3 p.m. local time in Ovid to rescue the senior dog, who was stuck at the bottom of the ravine,the Ovid Fire Department posted on Facebook.

The animal had slipped on “fallen leaves or loose vegetation” while on a walk with his owner, who had tried to catch him before the two lost their footing and tumbled to the bottom of the ravine, authorities said.

The owner, who was not publicly identified, was uninjured in the incident, but the dog received minor injuries and needed to be rescued since he was unable to climb out of the ravine due to his age and size, the fire department said.

Emergency personnel from the Seneca County Rope Rescue Team used a basket to pull the dog to safety on Sunday, officials said.Ovid Fire Department

Ovid Fire Department

In a video and images shared from the rescue, emergency personnel from the Seneca County Rope Rescue Team used a basket to pull the dog to safety.

Eventually, the dog was able to walk and was taken to an area to warm up before he and his family members were reunited, authorities said.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The rescue won the approval of many in the community on social media, as commenters flooded the department’s post with gratitude after the happy ending.

“Thank you and God Bless you for caring and rescuing these souls,” one woman wrote, while another said, “It’s awesome to see our Amish community firefighters come out on a Sunday their special day.”

The area is home to more than 12,000 Amish and Mennonite families,according to New York Upstate.

Ovid is about 60 miles southwest of Syracuse.

source: people.com