Welcoming a dog into your life usually brings joy, not fear. Yet sometimes the moments that test you most reveal just how much your dog truly means to you.
Erin Dogouet, a rancher in Texas, faced one of those moments when her longtime livestock guardian, Ziva, went missing.
The situation became even more alarming because Ziva disappeared during a flood sweeping across the ranch, leaving Erin terrified of the worst. Despite the danger, Ziva’s strength and the GPS collar she wore kept hope alive.
Sixteen Hours Stranded In Flooded Gully
Erin had gone to Colorado, unaware that her dog was about to face a life-threatening situation.
She had left Ziva, along with hundreds of ranch animals, in the care of her sister Shannon and a pet sitter named Taelyn. Then, calamity struck.
Ever alert and protective, Ziva spotted a wild animal and chased it to the far edge of the ranch near a river.
But with heavy flooding sweeping through Texas, what began as a routine pursuit quickly turned into a dire emergency.
Ziva became trapped in a flooded gully. The river rushed ahead of her, while the other three sides were too steep and slick to climb. She was stranded, just inches away from catastrophe.
“Ziva was found trapped in a flooded gully along the flooded Medina River. The roaring river blocked any escape back home, and the three other sides were too steep and slick for her to climb out on her own,” said Erin, as reported by People.
Fortunately, Ziva’s GPS collar allowed Erin to track her. Once she realized Ziva was missing, Erin used the tracking app to guide Shannon and Taelyn to Ziva’s exact location.
Hours passed without movement on the signal. Although Ziva remained “on the radar,” it also left Erin fearing the worst.
Emotional Relief As Ziva Is Pulled To Safety
Shannon and Taelyn acted quickly.
They followed the GPS signal across the ranch. When they reached the area, they searched through the mud and floodwaters, hoping to spot Ziva.
As the floodwaters and mud were everywhere, it was quite difficult to spot this giant dog. Then, they saw her. Ziva was alive, struggling to escape the gully.
The two worked together to help her out, and within minutes, she was safe.
Erin received the emotional news with overwhelming relief. Ziva had survived what could have been a deadly ordeal and was finally headed home.
Once back at the ranch, the 120-pound Kangal was clearly worn out. Thankfully, she hadn’t been injured. She was simply exhausted and slept for over ten hours.
After everything they’d been through, Erin’s bond with Ziva grew even stronger.