How could it survive 35 days without water?
Yeah...This almost sounds made up. 35 days w/out water or food and only lost 5lbs? Must have been water in the hole or that was one damn fat cocker!
And...how likely is there to be a hose laying around Death Valley?
I would have found someone to help me get my dog out of the pit, regardless if I thought it was dead or not. I would have NEVER had the heart to just leave it there...not knowing.
I am going to guess it found water down there.