PORTLAND, Ore. — New pictures from Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District show the rescue of a Great Pyrenees after it injured its paws while hiking a trail on Saddle Mountain.
In a Facebook post, Cannon Beach RFPD said on Friday, July 12, the 160-pound dog was hiking the trail with its owners when it "suddenly refused to keep walking."
After a quick checkup, the owners found their dog's paws were raw and cut up from walking the trail.
That's when rescue crews from Cannon Beach RFPD, Hamlet Volunteer Fire Department, Gearhart Volunteer Fire Department and Seaside Fire and Rescue were called in to help carry the dog down the mountain in a stretcher.
"Although saddle mountain signage and the state park website states that dogs are allowed but must be on a leash, it is not very dog friendly," Cannon Beach RFPD said in its Facebook post.
The floor of the trail the hikers and their dog were on is covered in large amounts of welded wire fencing, intended to provide traction and maintain the trail's stability. Cannon Beach RFPD warns that many of the wires have sharp points that stick up and can injure unsuspecting pets.
They added that walking on rough terrain like the wiring or sharp rocks can "be very rough on your fur baby," recommending dog owners opt for booties for the Saddle Mountain trail or similar hikes.
They also advise frequent hikers to work on building up their dog's ability to walk on rough surfaces.
"Just as we humans can build up calluses by incremental exposure to rough surfaces, you can do the same with your dog," Cannon Beach RFPD said, encouraging dog owners to start with shorter periods of time on these surfaces to let the pad build up toughness over time. They said this is extra important if you plan on frequent hikes or know they'll be walking on rougher surfaces throughout their life.