A Tennessee hound dog spent three days stuck in a Sevier County cave with a bear and was rescued Wednesday, October 11.
The Waldens Creek Volunteer Fire Department (WCVFD) shared a detailed report of the incident the same day they rescued the dog, named Charlie.
According to WCVFD’s Facebook post, Charlie was set up “about 40 feet deep in an extremely narrow cave shaft.”
They also shared that Charlie was wearing a tracking collar which helped them locate the dog. “He started barking when he heard us calling him. » they wrote in a comment.
Charlie was stuck in the cave for three days. “and for part of that time I shared it (reluctantly) with a bear about 2 years old and weighing 200 pounds”, WCVFD wrote.
A joint Charlie rescue team was formed on the morning of October 10 to save the dog.
The team that rescued the dog, called the Sevier County Joint Technical Rope Rescue Team, was made up of different rope rescue technicians from four local groups: the Waldens Creek Volunteer Fire Department, the Rope Rescue Team Sevier County Fire and Rescue, Sevier County Volunteer Rescue Team and the Catons. Chapel/Richardsons Cove Volunteer Fire Department.
The team thought it would be a simple rescue, until two WCVFD firefighters discovered that Charlie had an unusual “roommate” inside the cave.
“Things changed when Firefighter Downing came around a corner and found a bear sleeping five feet under the trapped hound dog further into the cave system.” WCVFD wrote.
The team was forced out of the cave and postponed the rescue mission after seeing the bear. However, surveillance cameras have been installed to monitor the exit from the cave and see when the bear leaves.
The next day, October 11, the team found that the bear had left and not returned, giving everyone time to rescue Charlie.
The firefighters would have “I entered the cave with a rope system, climbed down and located Charlie trapped. They made a harness for the dog and carried out the rescue.
After being rescued, Charlie was reportedly dehydrated and starving, but was otherwise in good condition.
Additionally, Charlie was immediately reunited with his happy owner after being rescued from the cave.