Dog slips, gets stranded on narrow cliff ledge 50 feet high, Texas rescuers say
Firefighters at a popular Texas park swooped in and came to the rescue of a golden retriever who took a little trip over a cliffside.
On June 28, the San Marcos Fire Department received a call about a dog that slipped over a cliff in Purgatory Creek and was stuck on a narrow ledge — almost 50 feet from the ground, the City of San Marcos said in a June 30 Facebook post.
“Stella, a 70-pound golden retriever, had gotten too close to the edge and slid about 15 feet onto a narrow ledge, leaving her about 40–50 feet above the ground,” the post said.
Dramatic photos show a timid-looking Stella being helped by rescuers on the ledge. Her saviors had to rappel down to rescue the canine safely, the post noted.
In other photos, Stella looks right at home with members of the department on the scene, as she drinks water and gets pets.
“We’re happy to report Stella was reunited with her owner safe and uninjured,” the post reported.
People in the comment section applauded the dangerous rescue mission and cracked a few jokes.
“None of the other dogs are gonna believe Stella when she tells them she’s been rappelling,” one person said.
“Great job, SMFD! Poor Stella was probably so scared. I’m glad she’s OK,” another commented.
The post also mentioned all pets need to be kept on a leash while visiting parks and “natural areas.”
San Marcos is about a 50-mile drive northeast from San Antonio.
This story was originally published July 2, 2025 at 4:02 PM with the headline "Dog slips, gets stranded on narrow cliff ledge 50 feet high, Texas rescuers say."