You don’t always know what you are in for when you begin an adventure. No one in a group of cavers in western Virginia expected to find what they did 40-50 feet underground. When Dave Jackson and Jesse Rochette, from a Colorado-based educational cave simulator company, headed out to Narrows in Giles County to explore Giant Caverns they discovered a shocking surprise inside the cave.
As they headed down into the cave, they spotted a dog who was miraculously alive. Rochette repelled down and fed the dog a piece of salami, and she ate it up instantly. As they noticed the dog shivering, they wrapped her up in whatever they could find to keep her warm. Once they got her wrapped up, they coaxed her into drinking some water.
Jackson said while they did have rescue training and had even participated in rescues before, they had never had one involving an animal before now. Using the rescue gear they carried with them and some improvisation, they rigged up a dog harness and system to pull the dog out of the cave strapped to Rochette.
Once back in the fresh air and sunshine, the dog perked up and began sniffing the air. Next was to figure out if the dog belonged to anyone and to get her medical attention. The property owner did not recognize the dog, so they took her to a nearby veterinary hospital. She was taken to the Giles County Animal Shelter, where she started to heal, recuperate, and received many treats.
The shelter is calling her Sparsy, from an acronym SPAR-C which stands for “small party assisted rescue-canine.” Sparsy is recovering well from her time trapped in the cave. She had no broken bones but couldn’t use her back legs well at first, but with medication, rest, and good nutrition they are certain she will be up and moving within days.
The shelter is still trying to find her owner. However, they believe that if she continues healing, she will be ready to find a new home soon.
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