It was a quiet morning in Oregon when Brandon Garrett was heading north on U.S. Forest Service Road 39. He had his four dogs with him, going for a casual drive, not knowing danger was ahead. His car hit a sharp turn, slid off the road, and flipped multiple times into a ravine. At 9:28 a.m., a call to the Baker County Sheriff’s Office said Garrett was missing, prompting a search right away.
Brandon’s family waited at a campsite, getting more worried by the minute. Then, one of his dogs made it back to the camp after traveling almost four miles. This let them know something had gone very wrong.
The Accident on U.S. Forest Service Road 39
On June 2, Brandon Garrett was heading north on U.S. Forest Service Road 39. He missed a curve and his vehicle crashed into a creek. This tragic event happened with his four dogs as they traveled the steep Road 39. His vehicle hit a turn and ended up on its side in the creek. After not reaching the campsite, his family got worried. They then launched a search and rescue mission which lasted throughout the entire day and evening.
Garrett struggled and crawled about a hundred yards away from the crash and then was forced to stay overnight in the tough wilderness with his four dogs guarding him. The area was hard to access, so the rescue teams faced big obstacles. They had to cut a way through with chainsaws to reach him. The Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Pine Valley Rural Fire District, and others were all looking for him and his dogs.
“The three remaining dogs were located alive at the crash scene.”
Sheriff Ash praised Garrett and the rescue teams for their work. They used a highline rope to lift Garrett out of the ravine. Later, a Life Flight helicopter took him to a hospital.
“Amazing. Thankful for this outcome. Somebody get that dog a bone, he saved his person,” another commented.
Someone commented on the Baker County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page: “He’s ok! No broken bones, or internal injuries. Bruised up pretty bad, possible concussion. Staying overnight in Boise for observation. 2 of the dogs have broken bones and are at a vet in La Grande and will heal.”
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Previous News Mentions: Trending Rescue Stories
Over the past two years, there have been numerous newsworthy stories involving animals in rescue scenarios, capturing public interest and sparking discussions on social media platforms. In September 2023, a small town in Oregon made headlines when a golden retriever named Max alerted neighbors to a house fire, resulting in the safe evacuation of a family of four. Another instance in January 2024 involved a Labrador retriever named Bella, who helped pull a stranded hiker out of a deep snowbank in the Rocky Mountains.
In both cases, videos and eyewitness accounts shared online went viral, showcasing the heroism and quick thinking of these remarkable animals. These incidents highlight the incredible ways in which dogs continue to assist and protect humans, contributing to the ongoing narrative of canine heroism.
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From the Club
I love reading stories like this. It amazes me to read about a dog willing to go four miles back to the original camp site to let the rest of the camp site know they were in trouble. I’d love to know more about the story behind the one dog willing to take this chance: The type of dog? Any special training previously? It’s also a miracle that none of the dogs were seriously injured after such a nasty fall.
It also isn’t confirmed but some have commented the mother dog is a Whippet / Grayhound type of breed that went and sought help while the younger dogs stayed near Garrett.