Ranger plucks dog from cliff in Alaska park

By Becky Bohrer, Associated Press

Tuesday, July 1, 2014 | 9:54 p.m.

JUNEAU, Alaska — A ranger at Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska plucked a dog off a cliff ledge near Exit Glacier.

Sadie was brought down in the backpack of ranger John Anderson on Monday.

"I could tell when he had lassoed the dog because the crowd kind of, yay, applauded," chief ranger Mark Thompson, who helped in the rescue, said Tuesday.

The park's chief of interpretation, Kristy Sholly, said she didn't know how long the dog had been there, and it blended in with the rocks. Sadie was probably a bit dehydrated, and she was coaxed into the backpack after refusing to walk on her own, Sholly said.

Thompson said the dog was pretty worn out, and he and Anderson took care so as to not spook her.

Park officials began hearing reports late last week of a dog in the area, on the glacier and along the Resurrection River near Seward, Alaska. But Sholly said rangers weren't able to find it.

Anderson had to be lowered by rope Monday to rescue the dog from the ledge.

Sadie was on a trial adoption when she apparently started roaming the park, Sholly said. Sadie was being cared for back at the local shelter, and there was some interest from local residents in adopting the dog, she said.

Sholly did not know what kind of dog Sadie is, but described her as "poodle-ly."