The rescue by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office’s Open Space team took nearly five hours
Credit: Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook (2)
NEED TO KNOW
- A dog named Atlas, who weighs close to 130 pounds, was rescued after becoming too tired to finish a challenging hike in New Mexico
- Deputies carried Atlas down a rough four-mile trail using a Stokes basket during a nearly five-hour rescue
- Authorities reminded hikers who bring their pets to monitor pets for exhaustion
A large dog received special treatment after getting tired during a hike.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) in New Mexico announced on Tuesday, Sept. 22, that they carried out an unlikely rescue after Atlas, a nearly 130-pound dog, needed help finishing a difficult hike. The rescuers literally carried Atlas out, as the canine couldn’t muster the strength to make the return trip.
Atlas was “too exhausted to finish a difficult hike,” according to BCSO, prompting the department’s Open Space deputies to hike up the mountain’s rough trail to retrieve Atlas.
Credit: Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook
The rescue took nearly five hours and covered four miles, with team members taking turns carrying Atlas down on their backs and shoulders. The agency shared photos of the furry effort, which show Atlas slung across rescuers’ backpacks as they navigated the terrain.
Eventually, the rescue team placed Atlas in a Stokes basket—emergency equipment similar to a stretcher that lets rescuers stabilize and transport injured people from hard-to-reach areas—and maneuver Atlas off the trail.
After making it safely down the mountain, Atlas earned the title of “the goodest boy we have ever rescued.”
Credit: Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook
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After the incident, the department reminded people hiking with their pets to “bring plenty of water, watch for signs of exhaustion, and remember that the trip back can be just as challenging as the climb up.”
PEOPLE reached out to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
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