For 17 terrifying hours, Carl, a five-year-old Lagotto Romagnolo, was stranded on a narrow cliff ledge more than 120 feet below the top of a steep bluff in Dickson County, Tennessee. What began as a peaceful evening on a neighbor’s farm quickly turned into a frightening ordeal for Carl and his owner, Scott Grissom, who feared he might never see his beloved dog again.
credit. Timber Ridge Farm
Carl had been enjoying a fun day swimming in a creek and playing with other dogs on the farm. Everything seemed normal until he suddenly disappeared. Scott and his friends immediately began searching the property, but they had no idea where Carl had gone. As they continued looking, they became increasingly worried that he might have fallen over a nearby cliff.
After hours of searching, they finally heard a faint bark coming from somewhere below the bluff. The sound gave them hope that Carl was still alive. However, darkness soon fell, and his barking stopped. With no safe way to reach the steep, rocky area, Scott had no choice but to wait until morning, hoping his dog had survived the night.
credit. Timber Ridge Farm
The following morning, a neighbor used a drone to search the dangerous terrain. During the search, they spotted Carl perched on a tiny ledge more than 120 feet down a nearly 200-foot bluff near Jones Creek. He was alive but trapped in a dangerous position with no way to climb back up.
For Scott, the situation was especially heartbreaking. Carl was more than just a pet. After losing his wife the previous year, Scott had relied on his loyal companion for comfort and emotional support. The thought of losing him was devastating.
The City of Dickson Fire Department responded to the emergency, working alongside four other fire crews to organize a difficult technical rescue. Two firefighters carefully rappelled down the steep, rocky cliff to reach Carl. Once they reached him, they secured him inside a specialized rescue bag and carefully lifted him back toward safety.
After approximately 17 hours on the cliff, Carl was finally reunited with Scott. The emotional reunion brought enormous relief to his owner, who had spent the night fearing the worst.
Carl was taken to a veterinarian for an examination. Although he had suffered bruises during his frightening ordeal, he was thankfully expected to be okay.
credit. Timber Ridge Farm
Scott was overwhelmed with gratitude after seeing his beloved dog safely home. He later expressed how terrified he had been and how thankful he was that Carl had survived. Thanks to the firefighters’ courageous efforts and the neighbor’s drone discovery, the dog who had seemed lost was finally back where he belonged.
