6 minute read
Technical Animal Rescue Team
By Melissa Holmes and the OHSTAR team
Hiking, backpacking, boating, and adventuring with our pets is a way of life in the PNW. As outdoor enthusiasts we are all well versed in the 10 essentials for ourselves, but what about our loyal companions? What do you do and who do you call if your pet is injured or falls while you are out hiking?
Formed in 2000 by Oregon Humane Society Lead Investigator Randy Covey, the Oregon Humane Society Technical Animal Rescue (OHSTAR) team seeks to bridge the gap between law enforcement, emergency services, and animal control in assisting pets and animals that have fallen, become trapped, stranded, or otherwise found themselves in precarious situations. Our rescue calls range from injured dogs on the tops of mountains, cats stranded in treetops, injured beavers or tangled waterfowl, horses trapped in snow, and dogs that have slipped or fallen down cliff sides. There are few challenges that our team will not meet if we can safely assist in saving the life of an animal in need.
Our all-volunteer team of almost 30 members is the largest we have had and is made up of a diverse group of people with different backgrounds and skills. Having a large group of volunteers has ensured that we almost always have someone who can respond promptly to calls for help. Our commitment to the community and the ability to make a difference for even one pet and family is why we do what we do.
OHSTAR team training at Rocky Butte. Photo by OHSTAR
As with any rescue scenario, safety is the number one priority, and the best way to be safe is to be prepared. The diverse number of rescue scenarios required OHSTAR to create a unique training program with a combination of resources such as mountain and rock climbing experts, tree climbing experts, veterinarians, animal care experts, FEMA, and first responders. Monthly trainings are held one weekend a month with additional supplemental trainings to practice skills. Members learn, practice, and certify each skill before being able to perform them in a rescue call-out. We have members who have joined with no climbing experience, and some that have had no previous animal handling. All training is done within the team in a supportive, collaborative, fun, and challenging environment. Often our trainings are mock rescue scenarios based on previous rescues or common rescue scenarios we see, like dogs that have fallen off cliffs or down embankments, or who have become injured or overheated while hiking.
Just a few weeks after a mock rescue training for a highangle rescue, the OHSTAR team was called to assist Roman, who was out on a trail with his family when he slid 70 feet down an embankment. Weighing over 200 pounds, the mastiff was stressed, exhausted, and unable to get himself back up the muddy embankment. OHSTAR received the call from Roman’s owners and volunteers arrived at the scene shortly after. Using a high-angle, double-rope system, two rescuers were lowered to Roman, and our team quickly determined he was uninjured but exhausted. A stokes basket (a type of rescue stretcher) was sent down to the rescuers and Roman was carefully loaded and secured before being lifted up and back to his loving owner’s arms.
This past summer we received a call from an owner whose dog had injured her front paw while hiking Silver Star Mountain. After attempting to carry Aspen for 2.5 miles, her owner knew that he could not carry her the rest of the way with their dwindling water supply on this particularly hot day. Thankfully, he knew to reach out to OHSTAR for assistance since he had adopted Aspen from the Oregon Humane Society. The team communicated a plan, and it was decided that someone would leave immediately to bring water and first aid supplies to them while a group coordinated gathering gear and supplies from the office at OHS. The team hiked up Silver Star Mountain and was able to give water and electrolytes to the owner and Aspen. They wrapped Aspen’s paw before securing her on the stokes basket, loaded her on the trail cart, and brought her down the trail safely. Aspen and her owner were very grateful and immediately went to the emergency vet.
Unfortunately, not every call to OHSTAR has a happy ending like Roman or Aspen’s rescues. One of the most challenging parts of our job is letting pet owners know that their pet did not survive. Not long after the popular Eagle Creek Trail in the Gorge re-opened, we had to deliver tragic news to an owner whose pet continued on next page
OHSTAR, continued from previous page
Above, members of the OHSTAR team particapiting in rescue and training operations. Photos by OHSTAR.
had fallen down a steep ravine and perished. The narrow section where the dog fell did not have any anchor points and was steep and unsafe to lower anyone down. A team of OHSTAR volunteers hiked in through the ravine and upstream to the point of the trail but still could not find the dog. We deployed our drone to better explore the area and were able to locate the dog and confirm that he was, unfortunately, deceased. While heartbroken at the loss of her beloved pet, the owner appreciated the closure we were able to provide in confirming he had passed and was not suffering.
As outdoor enthusiasts you know accidents can happen anywhere, anytime. However, we can plan and be prepared. We can take safety measures for our pets in the outdoors to prevent many of these scenarios. When checking the weather, trail reports, and other details, consider how the terrain, temperature, and conditions may affect your pet. If there is snow, rocky, or hot terrain, consider boots for your dog’s feet to avoid injuries. Bring extra food and water for them just as you do for yourself. The
number one thing that will keep your dog safe in the outdoors
is keeping them on leash, at all times. Even the most welltrained dogs have run off with no warning, slipped, or just really needed to show that squirrel who was faster. We hope that you never need us—but if you do, know that we are here for you and your pet!
INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING OHSTAR? ■ Volunteer: We are almost always looking for volunteers to join the team. You don’t have to be a climbing expert or an animal expert, just have a willingness to learn, attend trainings, and respond.
Find out more at oregonhumane.org/services/ emergency-animal-rescue. ■ Wishlist: OHSTAR has its own Amazon Wishlist, which you can find at tinyurl.com/OHSTARWish. ■ Tell a friend (or 10): Most importantly, please help us get the word out! We need outdoor enthusiasts like you to help spread the word about our team’s ability to respond. We have seen people injuring themselves, or putting themselves in dangerous situations, trying to rescue their pets, and we want to help keep you and your pet safe. Please call us at 503-849-5655 if you need assistance.
