Amanda McGregor鈥檚 chocolate lab Louie is now recovering from a mountain adventure that brought together dozens of people in the local hiking community.
It began when McGregor鈥檚 stepdaughter Janessa picked Louie up at 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 22 for an overnight trek to Radium Lake, a nine-kilometre hike starting from a trailhead near Chilliwack Lake.
A long distance to be sure, but the five-year-old dog is no stranger to romps in the woods with his friend. They鈥檝e done numerous long hikes together over the years.
鈥淗e loves going with her,鈥� McGregor said Friday. 鈥淪he is his favourite person.鈥�
But when 2 p.m. came on Sunday and Janessa and Louie weren鈥檛 back, Amanda started to worry.
鈥淎nd then 5 p.m. we hadn鈥檛 heard from her. Then 7 p.m. we are starting to freak out.鈥�
Then at 8:30 p.m. a woman called who had seen the pair up at Radium Lake and told McGregor the dog was injured. Janessa couldn鈥檛 get the 90-pound, five-year-old dog down the hike.
So McGregor and her husband called Chilliwack Search and Rescue (CSAR) who told her she had to call the RCMP first. Because Janessa was prepared with camping gear, police said to wait until Monday at noon to see if she was out.
By 1 p.m., no Janessa, no Louie. So the RCMP met the couple at the trailhead. But as they approached in their vehicle, Janessa showed up. She hiked back out to get more food and water for Louie. They were happy to see Janessa was OK, but by seeing her, CSAR and the RCMP couldn鈥檛 help anymore.
鈥淣ow it鈥檚 no longer a human needing rescue, it鈥檚 a dog and they don鈥檛 get involved,鈥� McGregor said.
On to the next plan. Amanda and John decided they would hike in and try to help carry Louie out on Tuesday.
鈥淲e are in our 50s and I鈥檓 not the weight I should be and John is not in the shape he should be. We are not meant to climb mountains.鈥�
They made it about three quarters of the way but had to turn back.
Another night on the mountain for Janessa and Louie, who were likely running out of provisions. But on Wednesday morning, Amanda knew she had to do something but police would no longer help so she phoned the SPCA. It had been suggested to her that she check with local hiking groups for help.
She joined the on Facebook and at 9:30 a.m. on July 26 issued a plea, ending with: 鈥淚s there any way help can go to her to get her and the dog back off the mountain we would gladly pay for it.鈥�
And in minutes, members of the Chilliwack hiking community from across the Fraser Valley mobilized.
There was almost too much of a response with dozens of commenters making suggestions, offering equipment and to come out and help. But Abbotsford resident Iain Harvey took charge and created a separate chat with a handful of folks.
鈥淓veryone was pretty helpful,鈥� Harvey told The Progress Friday. 鈥淎 lot of people were messaging other people to get involved, even with just equipment.鈥�
A core group eventually formed, Harvey, Toby Hyde, Cody Hamilton, Isaak Hazelton, Matt Horin and Charlene Howard. They met Amanda and John Wednesday afternoon on Chilliwack Lake Road and the group ventured to the trailhead.
The group headed up the trail as fast as they could not long which, Janessa came out at the trailhead.
鈥淪he said 鈥榯hey鈥檝e gone for the dog and told me to come down because I can鈥檛 do anything,鈥欌�� Amanda said. 鈥淪he had carried the dog part way down the mountain. She didn鈥檛 get very far, she was carrying him on her back falling and stumbling.
鈥淪he loves that dog. It鈥檚 her pal.鈥�
Sure enough, according to Harvey and Hyde, Janessa had gotten about two kilometres with the dog by herself, and with the help of two other hikers who tried to jerry-rig a stretcher with a tarp and sticks.
But Harvey and the group had a real stretcher lent to them by Laurie McPhee who runs , a pet training service that helps people learn to hike, hunt, swim and otherwise be adventurous with their dogs.
When the rescuers got to Louie, Hyde said the dog wasn鈥檛 moving much and wouldn鈥檛 walk at all.
鈥淗e growled a couple of times when we first got to him but that鈥檚 about it,鈥� he said.
So they wrapped Louie up and began the trek back down the trail with the injured dog on the stretcher.
鈥淭hey are 91原创enal,鈥� Amanda said of the group that went up to rescue Louie. 鈥淭hat whole Chilliwack Hiking Club, they are amazing people.鈥�
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 have done it without everybody,鈥� Harvey said. 鈥淚t all worked out really well. It was difficult but it worked out.
鈥淲e just hope the dog survives the next few days.鈥�
And therein lies the next big challenge. Amanda said they got Louie to the Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley in 91原创 where he was examined. Louie lost all the skin on his paws and he had festering wounds on his legs. He was dehydrated and suffering from more than one infection.
The first night at the clinic cost $2,000 and the second night $1,500 more. Amanada said if he has to stay over Friday night it will be another $1,500.
鈥淗onestly I don鈥檛 want to give up on my dog,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 starting to turn [for the better] but if I have to bring him home tonight, he dies. I can鈥檛 do that.鈥�
Another of the rescuers, Cody Hamilton, helped Amanda out by setting up a GoFundMe page called 鈥溾�� By Friday at 2:45 the page had raised $545 of a $4,000 goal.
Whatever happens, Amanda is emotional and so thankful to the local hiking community the way they came together for the rescue.
鈥淚n this day and age, to know that humans are out there that do this. This is such a positive story about people.鈥�
paul.henderson@theprogress.com
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