Three dogs were rescued after they had gone missing in a remote canyon in the Santa Clarita Valley Sunday morning, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The unexpected search and rescue mission reunited the three missing dogs with their owners after two members of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s search and rescue team heard barking while scouting out a training location.
They heard barking coming from a remote canyon near the Texas Canyon climbing area and decided to abandon their scouting mission to look for the dog.
They came across a small dog running up and down the steep mountain and said it seemed as if the dog wanted the team members to follow him. Eventually, they spotted two other dogs.
Among the two, they saw a large pit bull that they say appeared tired and scared, according to the department.
The search and rescue team notified the sheriff’s station desk that there was a dog rescue in progress and requested back up.
Animal control also responded to the scene to support the rescue efforts.
With the help of a few packages of hot dogs, the rescue team tried to coax the dogs down the mountain.
After a 20-minute standoff where the dogs were growling and barking, but their demeanor later changed.
“Then for whatever reason, all three dogs ran up to our team members and immediately started hugging their legs, wagging their tails and licking their faces,” the department said in a social media post.
The team spotted collars with phone numbers on all three of the dogs and learned that the pit bull’s name was Oden.
They were able to contact their owners who were relieved and said they had been looking for the dogs, who went missing overnight.
“The pit bull, slowly came down the hill and put his head on one of the rescuers legs and just closed his eyes. He was relieved to have been found,” the department said.
According to the department, the dogs had been missing overnight and had traveled approximately six miles.
The search and rescue members said the small dogs were able to get down the mountain on their own, but would not leave Oden behind though his descent did not come with ease.
“Our team members did an outstanding job reassuring Oden that it was ok to come down the mountain,” the department said.
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