Snowdonia mountain rescue crew save tired dog

June 15, 2010 12:30 PM

A four-man mountain rescue crew were called out to save the life of a dog which became tired on a Snowdonia mountain walk.

Nero, a 10-year-old black labrador had been trekking above the Ogwen Valley near Bangor, when he became tired and the stoney path caused him to suffer sore paws.

His owner, a woman in her 30s, didn't know what to do and dialled 999 for mountain rescue - asking them to help the poor pooch back down.

A team was dispatched and located the dog and owner before taking it in turns to slowly carry Nero down on their shoulder

The mountain heroes say it took three hours to get off the mountain -- and that the phrase 'rescue dog' is normally a description rather than an instruction.

A spokesperson for the rescue team said: "Initially, we placed the dog in a large bag and strapped it to a back frame / half a mini Bell stretcher.

"However with the heat of the day and the steepness of the ground, we felt that the dog might not be having the best casualty care.

"We let him out and placed him on our shoulders and top of rucsack. Three of us took it in turn to carry Nero.

"At each change of porter, the dog was given a break and was able to relax on some grass."

LINKS
Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue

http://newslite.tv/2010/06/15/snowdonia-mountain-rescue-crew.html

'Whistling' deer spark searches

A mountain rescue team called out twice to investigate shrill whistling suspect it was the call of deer and not walkers in distress.

Members of the public raised the alarm after hearing what they believed to be the sound of emergency whistles being blown.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team made two separate fruitless searches.

New team leader John Stevenson said wildlife experts advised that it may have been the call of sika stags.

The animals make the whistling sound as a warning and during mating season, which runs from September to November.

Raspberry noises
Sika are also known to make raspberry noises.

In the first call-out last week, the mountain rescue team and a search and rescue helicopter spent six hours searching Glen Nevis after a family raised the alarm.

The team searched the same area for a further two hours the following night.

Mr Stevenson said: "On the second night we did hear a whistling noise and we thought it was some kind of bird.

"Later, local wildlife people told us that sika deer can make this sort of whistling type noises."
Sika deer were introduced from Asia to parks in the UK in 1860, but escapees have established themselves in the countryside.




http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8147279.stm