Angels came at right time for dogs who spent weeks in wilderness - Denver Post

Print   Email   Font Resizedenver and the westBy Dave Delozier
9NewsPosted: 09/11/2011 01:00:00 AM MDT
These dogs apparently survived 20 days in the rugged Pike San Isabel National Forest before being saved. (9News )

The Pike San Isabel National Forest is rugged, it is remote, and it is exactly the kind of place Scott Erickson likes to explore on his dirt bike.

He was doing that on Sept. 5, exploring along the Skeleton Trail, when one very big surprise popped up about 2 miles down the narrow track. "I came around the bend, and there was a dog laying in the middle of the trail, so my first thought was there must be a hiker out here."

Erickson called out to see who would respond. The only response came from two dogs that began to wag their tails and walk toward him. "I started petting them, and it was like, 'Wow, there's some skin and bones here.' "

He gave the dogs water. He then had to figure out how to get the two back to the trailhead where they could get help. He sent a text message to his wife. She contacted the Douglas County Sheriff's Department and Douglas County Animal Control.

But the Skeleton Trail is very narrow and built for trail bikes, not ATVs. If the dogs were to get out, Erickson would have to walk them.

A short time later, other dirt bike riders came by and offered to help. One rider offered to give the dogs some of the lunch he was carrying. Another rider offered to help Erickson walk the dogs out.

"We were carrying the dogs and at first. I carried them in front of me and then we had them up over our shoulders," Erickson said. "We finally figured out we weren't going to be able to carry them, and so we let them walk. They limped, but they were still able to walk."

Douglas County Animal Control took the two dogs to a local veterinarian, who determined they had identification chips. The dogs were returned to the owner two days later. The names of the dogs and their owner are not being released by animal control.

The dogs had spent 20 days in an environment that they were fortunate to have survived.

"I've seen bears out there. I know there are big cats. I know there are coyotes, and I have no idea how they survived when they did," Erickson said.

Erickson says, given the number of people who worked to help the dogs, it proves there are a lot of good people in this world.

"Somebody said, 'Would you do it again?' I said, 'In a heartbeat.' "

See a slide show of the Rampart Range dog rescue at 9news.com.

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