Haley was working with a team of about 30 explorers to map caves north of Perryville, Missouri, as part of a project for the Cave Research Foundation. The cave is part of the Bellome Moore Cavern System, his second largest cave system in Missouri, and is about 22 miles long, he told CNN.
Haley, 66, who was involved in managing logistics and expedition matters, left the cave to find another caver and the local fire department’s deputy fire chief.
“I’m glad you came,” the fire chief said to Haley. “Please help us rescue the dog cave.”
Another parent-child group visiting the cave that day encountered a dog deep inside the cave before calling Haley for help.
Haley and fellow cave explorer Jerry Keane, both of whom specialize in cave rescue training, had to crawl through narrow passages to reach the dog.
The dog was unwell, Haley said. “But she was really malnourished. She was skin and bones. She was covered in mud.”
Haley said the missing dog was “lethargic” and hesitant to walk. When he put her blanket in a duffel bag, she stepped in and cautiously let her escape from the cave.
Haley said the rescue operation took more than an hour. Their rescue training doesn’t cover dog rescue, but he explained “many of the same principles we use for people that we can use for dogs.”
“The dog was sick,” Haley said. However, when she came out of the cave, “her spirit was lifted a little.”
According to Haley, 13-year-old Abby has been missing since June 9 and may have been in the cave for nearly two months, according to the owner.
Haley said it’s not yet clear how the dog got to the cave so far. speculated that flooding within the cave caused by heavy rains might have taken her deeper into the cave system.
“It feels good” to be a part of the rescue, Haley said. He also credits a team of cavers working with the Cave Research Foundation.
“I happened to be the only one on the ground when rescue was needed,” he said. But “if he had all 30 cavers there, 30 would have cooperated in this rescue.”
Source: www.cnn.com
