Crime & Safety
'Canine Hero' Rescued After 80-Foot Fall In Santa Cruz County
Blu, a Monterey Bay Search Dogs team member, does his best to save others. But after a scary fall, his people came to the rescue.
SOQUEL, CA — Blu, a search dog, is used to using his sniffer to help save the day, but after Blu fell 80 feet down a cliff Sunday in Santa Cruz County, first responders were quick to pay it forward for the hard-working pup.
The six-year-old Golden Retriever, a member of the Monterey Bay Search Dogs team, was with his owner during a training session at the Olive Springs Quarry when he fell off of a steep cliff, the Central Fire Protection District of Santa Cruz County said Monday.
Crews hiked up a drainage and scaled three waterfalls to find Blu, who had suffered moderate injuries including broken ribs, officials said. He was packaged in a harness and a California Highway Patrol helicopter crew helped fly Blu to safety.
Find out what's happening in Capitola-Soquelfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
CFPD wished the "canine hero" a speedy recovery and said officials hope to see Blu in the field soon.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.