Hiker Discovers Missing Dog That Was Trapped at Bottom of Cave After 3 Weeks Alone in Woods
People tend to think of cities as places full of vibrancy and life. They are, but the backcountry holds secrets far older than any metropolis.
Country boys and girls have known this for generations. And one Florida resident who loves to walk untrodden paths made an unexpected discovery — and ended up saving a life.
According to his website Florida Trailblazer, Joe Dunn has a passion for less frequented parts of the Sunshine State. He regularly shares his adventures on social media.
“I have long enjoyed the history, geography, ecosystems and wildlife that make Florida such a wonderful state for outdoor exploration,” he wrote.
“I began Florida Trailblazer to share about what I experience in the wilderness and help educate others about these places and the history behind them.”
But on the weekend of June 1, he encountered something he didn’t expect. While hiking, he heard an eerie, mournful sound floating in the forest air.
“It’s sound you don’t like to hear,” Dunn told WFLA-TV. “Really disturbing, makes you really sad to hear.”
As he investigated further, Dunn discovered a cave where the sound was coming from.
“It was unbelievable going out there, just a cave in the middle of the wilderness,” he said. “It took several miles to hike out there.”
Though the sound seemed eerie, Dunn soon realized it came from an ordinary source: a lost dog.
The dog was trapped in the cavern, and he had no way to get to it. Later, Dunn would learn it had been there for three weeks.
He posted about the animal on social media, asking for others to come and help. In no time at all, they responded.
Climbers from across Florida chimed in with their willingness to help, and soon enough they assembled in the area.
“I want to thank these guys,” Dunn told WFLA. “They wanted to help, and they came from all over. Now, we’ve become friends.”
After repelling down into the cavern, they managed to retrieve the anxious canine.
“She was trying to get our attention,” Dunn said. “She looked up at us, trying to jump through the cavern, trying her best.”
Dunn recalled that the dog “just rolled around on the grass, wanting her belly rubbed. She was the happiest animal I’ve ever seen.”
The rescuers checked the dog’s collar and contacted her owner to share the good news that the dog had been found.
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