Animal rescue!

Two members of Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team were doing a recce for an upcoming training exercise in the St. Kevin’s Bed area of the upper lake in Glendalough and ended up carrying out the second canine rescue this summer!

The pair had been skirting the rock band on the south side of the lake when they were surprised by growling noises. Initially they thought the sound was just carrying across the lake until they spotted a very forlorn looking dog on a ledge at the waters edge.

The wayward pooch had been on the missing list for four days. Its owners were out walking the Spink and Jaffa, as the dog is called, chased a goat down one of the gullies. They had reported the dog as missing to Park staff but weren’t holding out too much hope.

Only months before the Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team had to rescue a Jack Russell from the gulleys below the Spink. On that occasion members had to abseil 150m into the gulley to the stricken pup. Who says only cats have nine lives?

When the Dublin Wicklow rescuers informed the park staff that they had found a dog the owners were contacted. Amazingly the dog was in good shape after it’s 200m tumble and was very wary of its would be rescuers. After calming the dog a bit and bribing it with chocolate they managed to get it into a rucksack for the climb back out.

The rescuers and the now very happy dog were met by the very grateful owners back on safer ground. Jaffa was one dog who had definitely had it’s day but at least this tale had a happy ending!