Dog Climbs Tree, Rescued By Off-Duty Fireman

By Mark Keith, 12/28/18 11:16 PM

In the “we’re not making this up” department this week we submit story of Piper the dog. Piper recently climbed a large tree near her home in the Rocky Mound community and was rescued by off-duty fireman Joe Mac Rasche. According to Laurie Pinner this much-loved family pet (a rescue dog from the Hope Animal Shelter) recently suffered a serious kidney ailment and was nursed back to health by local vet Dr. Powell. Pinner says on Christmas day she had let Piper out for awhile. After Piper didn’t come home after several hours Laurie says she went looking for her. In the meantime, Laurie’s husband Adam hears a dog whimpering in the woods and finds Piper. PIper had walked up the trunk of a partially-fallen tree and was about 20 feet off the ground. Naturally Piper wasn’t inclined to walk back down the tree and the Pinners were stymied as to how to get her down. Finally, they called Joe Mac Rasche who brought a large ladder and brought Piper down. The Pinners are very appreciative of Rasche leaving his home on Christmas day to save a dog and they say they will also keep a close eye on the roamings of their “tree climbing” canine.