Nikko, a 125-pound Akita, recently went on a hike on McAfee Knob Trail together with his owner. While they were on their way, the pup’s owner was forced to call 911 because Nikko could no longer continue trekking despite drinking lots of water. So, the Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department came to his rescue.
In a Facebook post, the fire department explained that it had been three to four hours since Nikko and his human started hiking in 90-degree heat when they called for help. For the team to rescue the large dog, they used an all-terrain vehicle. They put Nikko in a Stokes Basket on a wheel and carefully navigated him down the mountain.
The rescue team started the operation at about 12:20 p.m., and by 2.pm., both Nikko and his human were returned to safety. After successfully getting the dog off the mountain, the crew brought him to the vet for an examination. Thankfully, the vet confirmed that other than having minor injuries in his feet, Nikko was completely fine.
In a Facebook update, the fire department said that Nikko is a seven-year-old Akita, who loves to hike. That was the very first time when he had to be rescued by the crew. Now, the firefighters also confirmed that Nikko is doing well now.
Nikko was not the first dog that needed to be rescued while on a hike within the past few weeks. Recently, a yellow Labrador named Leo also had to be carried by the rescue team down Mount Olympus in Utah. That happened after Leo began to show some signs of overheating. He refused to move, so Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue had to save him.
Because of the recent incidents, authorities have been cautioning hikers to be more mindful of their dogs. They recommend leaving early when hiking or waiting for a few months until the weather cools off.