Loyal Dog Saves Owner's Life By Running Miles For Help After Accident

June 10, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Baker County, Oregon.

In a remarkable display of loyalty and bravery, a dog saved his owner's life by running nearly four miles to seek help after a serious car accident. The Baker County Sheriff's Office shared this heroic tale on social media, providing details of the incredible rescue that took place on June 3, 2024.

dogs rescue owner stories
Baker County Sheriff's Office

At approximately 9:28 a.m., the Baker County Sheriff's Office received a report of a vehicle that had gone over an embankment on U.S. Forest Service Road 39. The call came from a man who was worried about his brother, Brandon Garrett, who had failed to arrive at their camp the previous afternoon. Family members had discovered his vehicle in the morning but were unable to reach it due to the difficult terrain.

Responding to the emergency, the Baker County Sheriff's Office, Baker County Search and Rescue, Pine Valley Rural Fire District, and Halfway Ambulance rushed to the scene. Sheriff Ash was among the first to arrive and found the vehicle, along with one of Garrett's dogs, in a steep, brushy ravine. As he searched for a way to access the creek, Sheriff Ash heard a call for help. Garrett was located alive approximately one hundred yards from the vehicle, above the creek. Sheriff Ash provided first aid on the spot.

dogs rescue owner stories
Baker County Sheriff's Office

With the assistance of Pine Valley Rural Fire volunteers and U.S. Forest Service employees, who used chainsaws to clear a path, the Baker County Search and Rescue Ropes Team began the challenging task of reaching Garrett. After setting up their rescue equipment, the team secured Garrett in a rescue basket and used a highline rope system to pull him across the ravine to safety. From there, he was transferred to medical personnel and transported by Halfway Ambulance to a Life Flight helicopter, which airlifted him to a regional hospital for further treatment.

The investigation revealed that Garrett had been traveling north on U.S. Forest Service Road 39 on June 2nd with his four dogs when he failed to negotiate a curve, causing the vehicle to plunge off the embankment.

Remarkably, one of his dogs managed to travel nearly four miles back to their camp, alerting the rest of the party that something was wrong.

Garrett, despite being injured, had crawled approximately one hundred yards from the vehicle and spent the night in the ravine. The rest of his family continued their search and eventually located his vehicle the next morning. The three remaining dogs were found alive at the crash scene.

dogs rescue owner stories
Baker County Sheriff's Office