Frail dog rescued after days inside cave
A location scouting trip turned into a major rescue operation when a group of hikers in Indiana found a dog who had been stuck in a cave for days.
The black and white pup, named Hawkeye, was at the bottom of a 30-foot pit in Dewey Hickman Nature Reserve when the passersby found him emaciated. It's estimated he could have been in the hole for up to two weeks, having lost significant weight and appearing malnourished.
Tray Heinke, part of the team that performed the impromptu extrication, was in the area helping friends trying to find the perfect spot for one of them to propose. That's when he saw the animal.
“We spotted his collar about 15 feet down surrounded by claw marks," said Heinke. "He then withstood another 15 foot drop to the floor of the pit."
It's possible Hawkeye's collar got caught on a branch halfway into the cave. The dog might have freed himself, only to slip further down.
Heinke, an experienced caver, returned with ropes, harnesses and helmets.
The team put their skills to work and slowly brought the dog above ground again. No one knows for sure what Hawkeye was doing on his own. Heinke believes he might have followed a female scent into the wilderness.
The dog was later nicknamed "Dewey," after the park in which he was found.
Watch the dog's rescue and reunion with his owner in this video. Just in case you're wondering, there was indeed a marriage proposal after the dramatic rescue. She said yes.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pup rescued after falling into cave 30 feet below
