Backcountry pet rescues are rising. When is it OK to hike with your dog?

Not everyone is ready to climb a er this weekend Whether it s because of fitness preparation altitude readiness improper footwear poor hydration strength or stamina The same is true for dogs But as the number of people in Colorado s wilderness grows so does the number of pets who accompany their owners onto trails The end is that search-and-rescue operations around the state have seen a spike in dog rescues from -foot peaks and other trails this year The Chalk Cliffs on the southeastern side of Mount Princeton as seen off Highway near Salida on July Photo by Helen H Richardson The Denver Post Honestly it s presumably a numbers encounter that with more dogs out on the trails there are more likely going to be more missions stated Nicole Lathrop spokesperson for Chaffee County Search and Rescue North CCSRN whose territory includes -foot Mount Princeton There have been six dogs rescued from Mount Princeton this year compared to zero in one in zero in and one in Lathrop explained These rescues sometimes involve hazards for the all-volunteer teams that go out on the trail often after dark to bring these pooches home The majority of latest rescue took place Sept when a association was called out at p m reached the big pup by administered first aid to its paws and carried it out using an crisis dog harness made by Littleton-based Fido Pro Statistics are showing Mt Princeton is not dog-friendly The terrain is too rough for their paws CCRSN wrote on Facebook at the time Previous dog rescue operations took place on Aug when CCRSN carried two dogs down the mountain after they were unable to continue and again a inadequate weeks later when two separate hikers questioned for assistance getting their four-legged friends to safe ground After applying first aid to a dog's paws Chafee County Search and Rescue North carried the pet down Mount Princeton during the summer of Provided by Chafee County Search and Rescue North Over the past sparse months more dogs and sometimes their humans who have been exhausted or injured themselves while trying to help their pets have also been rescued from high mountain trails by Park County Search and Rescue El Paso County Search and Rescue and Lake County Search and Rescue Often these dogs are too tired to move up or down a trail and other times they become injured by falling rocks or cuts on their paws from the rough terrain On June Park County Search and Rescue undertook its second crisis call that week for a dog that was too exhausted to continue on a backcountry hike the all-volunteer group wrote on its Facebook page Our club powered through over miles of varying terrain and substantial elevation gain in order to reach and then safely extract our floppy-eared floofy recipient In total the operation had our organization of volunteer rescuers in the field for hours Whether your dog is pounds or pounds the best thing you can do to be safe is to be prepared reported Lathrop If a dog and their owner are out and the dog becomes immobile there are several factors that come into play about what s safest Safety starts with preparation and Lathrop notes that not all search and rescue teams will do dog rescues Sometimes the dog gets injured by accident or has had damage to their paws and requirements to be carried the full way out she explained If you aren t sure if your dog is capable of hiking check with your vet announced Meghan H Rector owner of Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies in Castle Rock Your veterinarian should do an exam and make sure your dog is healthy and up-to-date on vaccines she disclosed Multiple mountain trails will take you well above timberline to to feet Only healthy dogs that are well-trained and acclimated for these altitudes and long distances should be taken on these hikes Consider these risks for a dog before taking your pooch on a long or high-altitude hike Altitude sickness Pulmonary hypertension Heatstroke Paw injuries from rocks or other sharp objects Toxic plant ingestion not necessarily related to elevation Wildlife encounters think porcupine to moose Related Articles Multiple Colorado ski resorts had below-average snowfall last winter Is a repeat in the offing Heightened enforcement planned as Guanella Pass braces for tens of thousands of leaf-peepers Circle Sept on your calendar for peak fall colors in Colorado mountains One of Colorado s highest passes offers gorgeous views and a smooth ride Colorado ski resort opening dates for - season Just as hikers would prepare themselves for a hike they should also make sure they have the essentials that their pets could need Rector revealed This includes training packing plenty of food and water and a bowl booties for their paws a dog first aid kit medications and a dog sling in incident they have to self-carry their dog down In addition she mentioned that owners need to make decisions based on their individual dog For instance what is its breed age and overall soundness If your dog is injured or too weak to hike at all turning around is the best choice she disclosed Also administer any necessary first aid and continue to monitor their vital signs such as labored breathing pale or blue gums limping or other issues Both Lathrop and Rector advise checking the weather conditions and minding trail rules to keep human and furry hikers safe Safety is how decisions are made and that could change depending on terrain weather guidance for both the subjects and the teams Lathrop mentioned Essentials include a navigation and communication device sun protection insulation such as extra clothes or a blanket a first aid kit illumination a fire starter kit repair kit extra food extra water and urgency shelter In the event of an crisis hikers should have a reliable way to call and get help then follow the guidance of dispatch and the search and rescue club she declared Park County Search Rescue association members in June safely evacuated a dog that they noted was too exhausted to continue hiking Provided by Park County Search Rescue All teams in Colorado are one hundred percent volunteer and you will never get a bill from us reported Lathrop However that doesn t consistently apply to ambulances and helicopters We have a bunch of pet lovers on our unit but it s not standard practice across teams to rescue dogs she explained If you think that your dog may not be able to do the hike I m sure he would be excited to see you after the hike Subscribe to our weekly newsletter The Adventurist to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox