Dog Survives Fall from Icy Cliff in Virginia

A 16-year-old Labrador mix named Oakley has surprisingly come away unscathed after slipping off a snowy cliff in Virginia, according to local authorities.

On Wednesday, Oakley was outside when he lost his balance on an icy patch in his garden and tumbled over the cliff’s edge. The Giles County Animal Shelter provided this information.

Emergency responders, including Giles County Animal Control Chief Bill Ahern and Trooper Jacob Taylor, quickly arrived at the scene to find Oakley amidst slick ice and snow.

To locate the dog, local emergency services deployed a thermal drone after spotting some footprints in the snow near the railroad tracks, as walking down to the cliff’s base was deemed risky.

“I immediately noticed how smooth it was once I stepped outside,” Taylor mentioned in an interview. “There weren’t many footprints, so it was clearly slippery and dangerous all the way.”

The Virginia Department of Transportation assisted rescue teams by using a road grader to create a path beneath the railroad tracks, allowing support from Norfolk and Southern Railroad in the search for Oakley.

Eventually, Oakley was located in the snow and loaded into a truck. “Just before they crawled onto the tracks, they spotted him and were able to rescue him. When they said, ‘He’s alright, he’s coming home,’ we were in disbelief,” Ahern recalled.

Authorities confirmed that Oakley emerged from the accident without any serious injuries.

His owner, Meg Nettles, expressed her immense gratitude toward the rescue team. “I can’t find the words to describe how thankful I am to this incredible team. Watching them put in such effort to bring my baby back was nothing short of amazing,” Nettles shared on Facebook. She was deeply moved by the team’s dedication and willingness to go to great lengths for her “fur baby.”