Mountain rescuers saw their training session turn into a very real rescue mission when they encountered a lost dog. Thanks to them, the latter was able to return to her family, reported Action News Now on Tuesday August 11.
In California (United States), members of the Butte County Sheriff's Office search and rescue team (Butte County Sheriff's Search and Rescue) took part in a 3-day training session on the mountain site of Trinity Alps when they found themselves face to face with a Belgian Shepherd Malinois dog. She was alone.
Enticed by pieces of tortilla
The rescuers recognized her immediately; they had met her the day before, while she was accompanying her master on a hike.
To be able to help him, they had to find a way to gain his trust. They figured she was probably hungry and tried to lure her with a few pieces of a tortilla they had just made. The dog, who responds to the name of Zenadidn't have to be asked to eat them.
She followed her benefactors to their vehicle, then they noticed that she was wearing a medal on her necklace with the contact details of her owner, whom they were able to contact.
“Glad to have been lucky enough to find us in the right place, at the right time”
One of the rescuers was responsible for taking the Malinoise to the agreed meeting point with the master, with whom she had a joyful reunion.
Woopets advice: why can it be useful to have your dog wear a tag?
A tag bearing the owner's telephone number can allow a person who finds a lost dog to contact its family directly, without needing to go through a veterinarian or shelter. In the case of Zenait thus allowed rescuers to quickly find his master.
However, it does not replace identification by electronic chip, obligatory in France for the dogs concerned. The medal is a practical addition; unlike the chip which requires the use of a reader, it allows you to immediately obtain the owner's contact details, provided they are up to date.
Be careful though, a medal can be lost, damaged or become illegible. It is therefore essential to regularly check its status and keep the information linked to the identification chip up to date. The ideal is to combine the two devices, particularly during hikes or trips, to maximize the chances of quickly finding your pet.