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In this photo provided by the Burke County Rescue Squad, a member of the Burke County Rescue Squad rescues a dog trapped 30 feet down in a sinkhole on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, at Pisgah National Forest in Morganton, North Carolina. (Burke County Rescue Squad / AP)

Dog Found Trapped in 30-Foot Sinkhole for Several Days Lured to Safety with Beef Jerky

By The Associated Press September 22, 2020 at 5:31am

A group of mountain bikers on a North Carolina trail spotted a dog trapped 30 feet down in a sinkhole — and it took a salty snack and some straps to lift him to safety.

The group was riding the Sinkhole Trail at Pisgah National Forest, about 50 miles south of Asheville, on Sunday when they encountered the dog.

The canine had apparently been stuck in the hole for several days, according to Burke County Search And Rescue.

A group of mountain bikers on a North Carolina trail spotted a dog trapped 30 feet down in a sinkhole — and it took a salty snack and some straps to lift him to safety.https://t.co/k5PaWdtjRf pic.twitter.com/aAz2zMTa8L

— NewsChannel 12 (@wcti12) September 22, 2020

The bikers called for help and led rescuers more than a mile to the stranded animal, where they rappelled into the sinkhole.

They were able to entice the starving dog with some beef jerky and raised him to safety using a harness, the rescue squad said.

The dog was not injured, but was starving and dehydrated, according to the rescuers.

Burke County Rescue Squad went into a 30-foot sinkhole to save a dog in the Pisgah National Forest. Hear from the rescuer who went down in the hole to get the dog today on eyewitness news at noon and 6pm. Video courtesy Burke Rescue Squad, which is a non profit. pic.twitter.com/chlKsHmea1

— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) September 22, 2020

He was taken to Burke County Animal Services for an examination and named “Sinker.”

Officials said he did not have a collar or a microchip, and if owners are not found, he could be placed up for adoption.

The 7-mile trail is named for the large sinkhole along its ridge.

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Tags:

Animals, Dogs, North Carolina, Rescue, U.S. News, WJ Wire

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