Sooner, with his owner Carl Darnell. (Courtesy of Carl Darnell)
Blind dog survives 45-foot fall from cliff
“You don’t throw a whole life away just ’cause it’s banged up a little.” – Tom Smith (played by Chris Cooper) in the movie “Seabiscuit”
On Aug. 12, 2021, my blind, 10-year-old Golden Retriever, Sooner, fell off a 45-foot cliff straight onto a rocky riverbed. We had been fishing in the rugged canyon section of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River near Lake City. Here’s our story …
I rescued him in August 2013 through New Mexico Retriever Rescue in Albuquerque. He was 2½ and had been in a puppy mill in Carlsbad, New Mexico, being mistreated along with his female companion. We bonded immediately. He had never been in water, and within five minutes was swimming freely. So began our eight-year relationship. He was into hiking, Nordic skiing, but especially fly fishing.
In winter 2016, his eyesight began to fail, and he was diagnosed with Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis, a genetic disease. In April 2016, he underwent a bilateral enucleation (removal of both eyes). Sooner began the adjustment with no vision, and happily accompanied me on hiking, skiing and fishing adventures, sometimes on challenging terrain.
In fall 2020, Sooner was slowing down and showing signs of rear leg weakness. Multiple tests revealed polyneuropathy, a problem with innervation coming from his spine. Follow-up blood draws revealed diabetes. Within two days of insulin injections, he started regaining strength. A special diet along with vitamins and supplements helped him regain most of the 30 pounds he had lost. He recovered from the side effects of steroids and his neuropathy improved.
Back to Aug. 12, a Thursday. Coming out of the canyon, we finished the first steep section of the barely visible trail back to the truck. I was fatigued, lost my focus, heard him yelp and immediately knew he had gone over the face. He had on his Ruff Wear flotation device, which cushioned his fall and likely saved him. X-rays later miraculously revealed no broken bones. He had no apparent external injuries or bleeding. His respirations were normal, but otherwise he was nonresponsive. There was no way I could lift him without a pack or other device. I left him and hiked back up this steep terrain to my truck. Incredibly, the person I had seen fishing earlier, Josh Bollish, a fishing guide from Gunnison, was in his truck about ready to leave. I explained that my dog had taken a bad fall and he volunteered to help. He grabbed his pack for his bouldering crash pad, and we headed down. We packaged Sooner, and Josh carried him to my truck. If not for Josh, I doubt I could have gotten help in time to save him.
In winter 2016, Sooner’s eyesight began to fail, and he was diagnosed with Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis, a genetic disease. In April 2016, he underwent a bilateral enucleation (removal of both eyes). (Courtesy of Carl Darnell)
I drove 45 miles north to the vet clinic in Gunnison. The vet on duty said they could do an exploratory laparotomy and if his internal organs were a mess, I would lose him. Incredibly, he only had one damaged area, the capsule surrounding one kidney. He was bleeding internally, and they repaired the damage. He had lost a lot of blood and his lab blood values were exceptionally low. The staff kept a close eye on Sooner around the clock until Saturday morning, when I loaded him in my truck and drove 171 miles to Colorado Springs, arriving at Animal Emergency Care early afternoon. The vet met with me and said they would do everything they could to save him. He would receive IV fluids, meds, telemetry, blood draws and two units of whole blood.
Incredibly, by Sunday morning, his hemoglobin, red blood cell count, hematocrit, and platelets were bouncing back toward normal levels. He was standing and was able to walk out with help to pee. By Sunday night he was better, wagging his tail, and in full acknowledgment of me.
Monday evening, as two friends and I waited outside in the dog run area, just 96 hours after his accident, the Doc walked Sooner out to us. That was one happy Mr. Sooner and one happy me. This had to be a cosmic mix of luck and incredible miracle.
Tuesday morning, I received discharge instructions, and a reminder to follow-up with the Gunnison vet. We stopped by the vet clinic in Gunnison and the vet’s jaw drooped in surprise that he had survived. Subsequent visits to our local vet have revealed normal bloodwork.
I know some people understandably give up on their pets for financial, time or other reasons. But there was no quit in him; I could never give up on him. I guess it’s is just the way I roll.
I close with two messages: 1) Rescue whenever possible. There are so many animals that need a loving home. 2) Care for, love and respect your pets and all animals. They do the same for you.
Carl and Sooner, The Miracle Dog, are home in Durango and back to hiking, fly fishing and being retired.
Heartfelt thanks to: Gunnison Valley Veterinary Clinic: Drs. Kathleen Seward and Kara Erickson, Tech Heather Miller, and staff; Animal Emergency Care: Drs. Mark Myrzglocki and Kara McArdell, and staff; Southern Colorado Veterinary Internal Medicine: Dr. Chris McReynolds and staff; Durango Animal Hospital: Dr. Meghan McCaw and staff; Animas Animals Holistic Vet Clinic: Dr. Heather Perkins; Durango Animal Chiropractor: Dr. Iris Davidson; and retired vet adviser: Dr. Chris Bauer.
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