Even with the best care, unpredictable things can happen and our beloved dogs sometimes find themselves in danger.
That’s exactly what happened to Layla, a twelve-year-old Anatolian shepherd, who gave her family quite a scare when she ran away from her backyard in Maryland during a thunderstorm.
At some point, Layla slipped down the sharp slope of a ravine.
Since the doggo has arthritis, she was unable to make her way back up through the dense brush and slippery mud.
Layla had no choice but to nestle on a pile of leaves and hope that someone would find her soon.
Looking For Layla
The dog’s family was terrified when she went missing and began searching for her everywhere.
Meanwhile, Layla accepted the fact that she would have to spend the night alone in the ravine.
She was a brave girl and didn’t panic although she missed her family terribly. Layla wished she was at home, snuggling with her doggy friend, Taz.
In the morning, the family was stunned when they found their sweet dog huddled on the leaves in the ravine, so steep that it looked like a cliff.
At the same time, Layla’s humans were relieved that she was alright. The pup breathed a sigh of relief to see her humans again. She was confident that they would save her.
Knowing that due to her arthritis, Layla couldn’t climb back, her family immediately reached out to Calvert County Animal Services in Maryland.
As soon as she received the call for help, Animal Control Officer Savannah Bell-Bussler, headed to the site, deeply worried.
“I was just concerned for the dog. I knew she was scared. I felt bad for her. We were trying to comfort her,” Officer Bell-Bussler told The Dodo.
Rescue Mission
Upon assessing the situation, Officer Bell-Bussler realized that she would need help in rescuing Layla out of the ravine, and she called the fire department.
In order to carry Layla to safety, Officer Bell-Bussler quickly improvised a harness system using a rope, several leashes and a stretcher.
Although she was soaked wet and covered in mud, the doggo remained as calm as she could while rescuers secured her to the stretcher.
She only occasionally chewed at the ropes in frustration.
Safe At Home
Officer Bell-Bussler and three fire department responders carefully carried Layla up the hill to safety.
April Coleman, deputy director of Calvert County Animal Services, assisted at the scene and then escorted the dog home.
“I looked in the rearview mirror, and there was her face just looking out the front windshield,” Coleman told The Dodo.
During the ride back home, Layla smiled. She was overjoyed to be safe.
The doggo reunited with her family at home. Her humans hugged her tightly, feeling over the moon to have her in their arms again.
They fed her, made sure she took her arthritis medication and gave her a bath.
After taking a full day to process everything, Layla returned to her old self again and continued with her life as if nothing had happened.
She loves being around her family but chilling with her friend Taz is her favorite thing.