My dog amazingly survived falling from a cliff!

@urbandekay (18278)
June 6, 2008 4:53am CST
Recently, I walked along a rocky beach with a friend and my dogs, picking our way over the slippery and jagged rocky outcrops, which a curtain of cliffs separated from the town above. My attention was occupied by my friend slipping and falling on a rock, when I looked round I saw the elder of my dogs was missing. I whistled her, expecting her to come running along the beach. But instead she appeared at the top of some steps cut into the cliff wall and started down them. Imagine my horror, when upon seeing me, instead of continuing down the steps, she ducked under the hand rail and leaped the 30 feet of so down onto the rocks! As she landed her legs unable to cushion her fall allowed her chest and head to contact the rocks. And she cried in pain. I ran across to her, my tongue dry in my mouth and after a cursory check picked up her shaking form. I carried her along the beach till we came to a sandy area, cautiously I placed her down on the sand, noticing a number of cuts on her jaw but no other apparent damage. She had by this time stopped shaking. After a moments hesitation she got up and trotted along the beach. I watched her that evening and checked on her during the night to check she wasn't concussed. All seemed well and despite being a little stiff for a day she made a full recovery. I was amazed, when I saw her jump I thought she would definitely be dead or suffer critical injury! Being a Border Collie she is above that size of animal, approximately cat size, where the ratio of surface area to body mass ensures a terminal velocity that protects them from damage on falls. Have you experienced an animal surviving potentially life-threatening situations? all the best urban
1 response
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
6 Jun 08
Oh man! Poor dog! I'm glad she's ok!! That is kind of amazing!