Posted on 08/17/2012 11:47:30 AM PDT by Mountain Bike Vomit Carnage
Two Denver hikers are locked in a bitter battle over the fate of a German Shepard named Missy, who was abandoned by one and then rescued by another at 13,000 feet.
Scott Washburn found the dog bloodied and near-death atop Colorado's Mt Bierstadt and then organized a search and rescue party to save her.
He wants to keep the dog, alleging that Anthony Ortolani lacks the ability or compassion to care for the creature, which went without food and water for eight days.
But Mr Ortolani says he didn't abandon the animal, an oncoming storm forced him to choose between staying by her side and perishing, or going down the mountain without her.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2189640/Canine-custody-battle-Hiker-climbed-13-000ft-rescue-Missy-German-Shepherd-wants-owner-forced-leave-dog-mountain.html#ixzz23pYWurwx
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
What a beautiful girl. I hope that the man who rescued her is able to keep her.
That’s one tough situation. In a life-or-death situation, a person’s life is worth more than an animal’s. So, I don’t blame the owner for making that choice. Still, the rescuer went above-and-beyond to save the dog’s life. I would say that he earned her.
I can understand why the owner felt forced to abandon her, but I don’t understand why he didn’t go back later to try to rescue her.
Anthony, the guy that abandoned her, doesn’t deserve her. He left her to save his own worthless hide. That dog wouldn’t have abandoned him if he’d been injured... Just goes to show why I like dogs more than most people.
The guy that put himself at risk to rescue Missy is the guy that needs to keep her. He proved himself by doing what he could for her and going back for her.
I’d never leave my GSD’s to die like that. NEVER.
When the dog’s original owner left her behind to die on the mountain, and did not return to attempt a rescue, he gave up his rights to the dog. This dog should belong to the kind folks who mounted the rescue. Also, dogs are not suited to mountain climbing. They suffer terribly when forced to climb rocky mountains.
It may seem crazy to people who don’t have pets, but I 100% guarantee that if I have to choose between the dog and life, I choose the dog.
We humans have a special responsibility that we implicitly accept when we adopt an animal. You should no more leave your dog to die on a mountain than your child.
I am now ready for people to rip into me for equating the two...
A good dog would die for their owner.....
Too bad some owners would not at least try harder to save their dog.
My vote? Finders Keepers.
You are so right, a dog is not a goat, they don’t have hooves for mountain climbing.
The rescuers deserve her.
I agree with you 100%. I would never leave my dog, never, ever, WON’T do it.....
Awww...what a pretty girl.
Our Gsd is family and will never just be left behind.
I totally disagree. I have a GSD and if something happened to her, I would carry her out of anything. These dogs are totally loyal and was probably waiting for her master to come back. You don’t just let a friend lay there and die. He has no right to this animal.
No brainer. Belongs to the guy who rescued her.
Just ask Missy...
Keep the cops away from that dog.
I agree with his initial decision to leave the dog and survive himself, but he made no attempt to go back up for her.
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