http://www.bullwrinkle.com/Assets/animallaws/coloradolaw.htm
Certain parts of 1(a) and 1 (b).
The original decision was both probably heartbreaking and necessary to save human life. The mistake he made, IMHO, was not going back to help her. By himself or with a hired party if he didn’t feel he could get her off of the mountain himself. (well, actually the first mistake was to take her there in the first place, as he admitted in the OP.)
If you haven’t done so already, you may want to read the whole thread. There is some really good info about this situation, especially from the “climbers” on the thread.
I read the thread.
I’m not a climber, but I am a dog lover. It sounds like this guy overestimated the dog’s and his own abilities. The rescue was a nine hour ordeal was it not? Was he afraid to go back given the difficulty he encountered the first time?
Was he a hero? No. Maybe even a coward. Maybe too passive and resigned. Maybe he gave up too easily.
But in the real world of animal neglect, terrible neglect, abuse and abandonment for no reason, neglect that is never pursued by the law. this guy is a saint. And if people, these hikers, are so dying to help a neglected dog I can give them a thousand needier ones.