HikeArizona.COM

Nick and I most likely passed by Missy and her owner as we were descending Mt. Bierstadt on Sunday. They summited a while after us and then got into trouble on the sawtooth. Looks like animal cruelty charges will be filed against the owner.

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/08/15/d ... bierstadt/

Wow. Just goes to show you how powerful these kinds of message boards can be.

I personally can't see leaving my dog somewhere, even in the event of personal injury. BUT, if somehow the situation could have justified that (and I'm still having trouble dreaming up that scenario), there's also no way that I wouldn't make sure that somebody else was on their way to rescue him the minute I had a cell signal and could give proper directions. In this case, the owner has no right to "his" dog back. It's sickening.

chumley wrote:I personally can't see leaving my dog somewhere, even in the event of personal injury. BUT, if somehow the situation could have justified that (and I'm still having trouble dreaming up that scenario), there's also no way that I wouldn't make sure that somebody else was on their way to rescue him the minute I had a cell signal and could give proper directions. In this case, the owner has no right to "his" dog back. It's sickening.

My thoughts exactly, Chumley. Frankly I have a hard time wondering why he put the dog into that situation in the first place. Someone had to bandage the dogs feet...was this trail a bit much for the dog to begin with? Then waiting until someone else actually rescues the dog, then goes "yeah, she's mine. Can I have her back please??" Absolutely not! He doesn't deserve her!

First off, I never would have brought my dog (if I had one) on something like that. And second off, I would have ditched all my gear in my backpack to carry my dog out. The owner should never get her back and should have animal cruelty charges brought up on him. Figgin assshole!

This is a very drastic case that made the news. Fortunately the dog was saved. But that mentality is rampant around the Country and in our community as well. I quit counting the cases I've been on. Unfortunately, there are communities here in town where the average life of a dog is only about two years. They die, mostly due to neglect issues, we get to pick them up, and then the owner turns around and gets a new puppy two weeks later. They are alot of people out there, that do not treasure their pets and consider them a part of the family like some of us do.....

I followed the 44 page message board and the problem wasn't leaving the dog. The 2 people involved had to bail due to their own safety and one was a teenager. He did call search and rescue which couldn't do anything. But then he gave up.....went on a business trip assuming she had died....and without posting flyers asking for help....no posting on craiglist...facebook....etc...etc. It was a week later that the first people saw the dog and fed her and gave her water and then a night rescue was attempted and then the next day she was saved.

My signature says it all! This guy shouldn't ever be allowed to have a pet again! OR KIDS! think how well he would be
responsible for them!

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beterarcher wrote:My signature says it all! This guy shouldn't ever be allowed to have a pet again! OR KIDS! think how well he would be
responsible for them!

Right on!

This is a post I saw on FB. I have no comment on the story one way or the other but thought I would share it with you:

there is a lot more to the story than this...the guy was in trouble w/ weather moving in and had a friend's kid with him. They tried to carry the dog but both fell themselves and dropped the dog on sharp rocks several times. He contacted several agencies when he got down about rescuing the dog (Sheriff's dept. S&R) but were told they would not go up for a dog. Did he use poor judgement in bringing the dog up thee, yes (but they had done 6 other 14ers together), did he maybe lack resourcefulness when shot down by the 1st couple agencies he tried, yes. But as far as I'm concerned, that is the extent of his crime. This guy is being ripped apart like he is the next Bin Laden!

just FYI.

Six other 14ers? That's hardly a justification. Most 14ers I've been on have had clear, easy trails to the top. Just one ounce of research would have told this guy that the Sawtooth is not a place for a dog. 14ers.com has several descriptions, reports, and pictures that lay out exactly what sort of hike it is. Not only that, but there have been two deaths up there within the last 14 months, both of which were terrain-related, just reinforcing that this is not a route to be taken lightly. I absolutely agree that this man was neglectful in the treatment of the dog, both before and after abandonment. And I do not think that his ignorance is any sort of excuse for having the poor animal up there in the first place.

juliachaos wrote: both before and after abandonment.

He put everyone in a bad position before no doubt ...but he did bring himself and a teenager back safety to the TH......but the after is the real sickening part....to just totally give up and presume she died is unexcuseable.

Update....the owner was officially charged by the sherrifs dept with a 0ct. 16th hearing date

Man Faces Animal Cruelty Charge After Abandoning Dog on Colorado Mountain (ABC News)

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2 ... -mountain/

The prosecuter is a 14ers.com member.

How many people will watch Ellen today for the first (and last) time ever?

Just a comment - I know the media sensationalizes things, and people tend to over react about many things. I believe a lot of this has been blown totally out of proportion.

That being said - I still believe this guy had no business taking a dog on that hike, or any other such hike, because of the risks involved. Since he did, in my opinion it was his obligation to go back after her as soon as possible, regardless of whether he thought she was dead or not.

chulavista wrote: I still believe this guy had no business taking a dog on that hike

It was def poor judgement on his part and the dog could have easily have died. The thing I don't like about the abuse charge is that it came from the same county agency( I think) that wouldn't help him in the first place. He definitely should have done more though. Glad the dog survived.