Mutt Alerts Hikers to Man Trapped in Rock Crevice for Nearly a Week
For
Immediate Release:
March 27, 2013
Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382
Riverside, Calif. -- On Monday, March 25, Ramon Llamas and his beloved mutt, Mole, were hiking with a group on Mount Rubidoux in Riverside, Calif., when Mole began tugging on Ramon's pant leg and whining, pulling him in the direction of a crevice between two boulders. The group soon realized that someone was trapped in the crevice and called 911. Rescue workers responded to the scene and spent an hour pulling the man, named Paul, from the crevice, where he had been trapped for an estimated five days. He was hospitalized for severe dehydration and is expected to make a full recovery—which, according to rescue workers, never would have happened without Mole's help: "He'd be dead if it wasn't for that dog," one firefighter said.
For saving Paul's life, Mole will receive a Heroic Mutt Award from PETA along with a special "doggie bag" full of vegan dog treats, a comfortable new harness, and a fun toy.
"Dogs are more than our best friends—as Mole demonstrated, they're our family members, our protectors, and our heroes," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "PETA hopes that Mole's tenacity and care will inspire anyone looking for a dog to head to an animal shelter—they're full of lovable, wonderful mutts just like Mole."
PETA's gift basket is an acknowledgment of the many rewards of sharing our lives with animal companions—and the importance of valuing their devotion by becoming the best guardians possible. The group encourages anyone with the time, willingness, ability, and resources to care for a dog properly to adopt a mutt from a shelter, rather than contributing to the animal homelessness crisis by buying from a breeder or a pet store.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.