Humans’ names: Jacqueline, Dominique and Alexander Fisher, aged 11, 13 and 6. Pets’ names and ages: Karma the cat, 10 months old; Luke the hamster, 1-year old; and Bailey, an ‘English springer. spaniel, © | 224. . a ‘Pet tale: Cat and dog area team. — Karma bats at ~ the lock on the fence gate - “until it opens whereupon Bailey heads for freedom and to make troublel ‘Luke, on the other hand is © a: loner: ... he’s. bitten everyone in the family. If you would like to appear with your pet in Pet Pause, please write to Terry Peters c/o the North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, B.C., V7M 2H4. Or send e-mail to , SATURDAY, iULY 24 Preview: 4-8pin SUNDAY, SULY 25 Boors open: 9am Auction: 10:30 am . ON TICKETS AT THE DOOR Admission $5 per person for weekend Don't miss out on this opportiutity to onn the car of your Pecans To buy or seil, cail Autoclassic at 540-2886 or 1-888-883-2853 _ Did you-know that commencing July 1, 1999 ali residential ‘builders applying for a building permit will be required to be licensed by the Homeowner Protection Office? Hf you require information cr assistance in navigating a course through the paperwork, the solution is simple...call Bradbreske, Crawford & Green and ask to speak to one of our team of experienced lawyers. BRADBROOKE, CRAWFORD & GREEN _ + #600-171 West Esplanade North Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: 980-8571 In late June, lan Price bad his golden retriever and friend, Radney, put down— the fact that it was to put him out of his pain and misery didn’t make it any easier. On bis computer’s hard drive Ian found an account be wrote of Rodnev’s luckiest escape, two aud a halfyears ago to the day before his last dav. He sent it to the North Shore News in response to some of the “don rage” correspondence he’s read in our pages, which he said sad- dens him becanse it drags down those who love their animals and are loved by them. As well, he thought it a good opportini- ty to remind readers of the human side of our emergency services here on the North Shore. lan Price Contributing Writer DECEMBER 20, 1996 ~- “I've lost Rodney!” gasped Jane as she rushed in with Giles, the younger of our two Golden Retrievers, at 7:10 am. As usual, Jane had taken the nwo dogs for a walk down Riverside Drive at 6:30, before heading off to work teaching French at Port Moody Junior Secondary School. At this time of year the morning walk is taken by strectlighc. Today, Rodney (real name Tiree of Radhacadail and a edigree as long as your arm) had taken his usual aristocrat- ic excursion into the scrub where he could relieve himself’ without incurring the wrath of the cesidents up and down the road by trespassing into their front yards. At nearly 11 years old, he’s a wise and sure-footed dog who knows where the cdge of the chi is, and stays away from it. At that point though, it’s 100 feet down from the road to the river through some fairly thick rainforest terrain. 1 pulicd on a sweater, grabbed a_ flashlight, and together with Jane headed back the 300 yards to the point where Rodney had last been seen. Peering over the edge, all was dark and silent, except for a dog barking quite some way off. “Must be a dog from one of the houses across the river,” > E thought, If Rodacy had fail- en over hére, he would cither be yelping frantically, ‘or be unconscious or dead. There was nO sense in trying 10 go down in the darkness. I decid- ed to check the neighbouring streets and yards and wait for daylight to search the river bank. Ac 8 a.m. it. was light enough to start out. I put on warm clothing, gloves, hiking boots and a hat, picked up my cellular phone, and headed for the river. A fishermen’s access path and staircase lay 150 yards upstream, and there I ¢ rescuc mission. It Sunday, July 18, 1999 — North Shore News — 33 shock, there was nothing bur large round boulders covered in wet moss, slime and slushy, sloppy snow. It was almost impossibie to gain a foothold but with some scrambling 1 managed to start down the riverbank. There was that barking again ... wait a minute, there “Rodney’s fire- fighter went up first, the dog not struggling in the least but not look- ing very dignified either ” are no houses this far up the river on the other side? And it did seem closer in the day- light. Perhaps there just might be a happy ending. But the going was getting slower and more slippery. I decided to start up the river from the downstream side to where the barking seemed to be coming from. I went back to the road and down to the river through a downstream property. Yes, still slippery as hell but smaller boulders to clamber over, and the barking was quite close now. Over one more big slimy boulder, the branch of a salmonberry bush providing a final wet slap in the face, and there he was, sitting half in the water but unable to move, and looking bedraggled but otherwise unhurt; no longer barking, but panting with the pleasure of having — been found. Relief! Still only 8:15 am. But I couldn’: shift him, although Rodney did manage to stand up, which proved that his back legs and spinal cord were OK. It was far too slippery for the dog to scram- ble out of the largé rocks at the side of the river by him- self. Goodness oniy. knows how he got there. T realized f couldn't possi- bly carry 80 Ib. of Rodney back up to the road, and probably would have great trouble even getting’ myself back to safety. It. was starting to rain. Some help was needed and the cellular phone now became worth its weight in gold. I called 9-1-1, after con- vincing myself this really was an emergency. After all, even though I was only a coupie of hundred feet from the road, no one would ever think to look down through the undergrowth to the river- bank. The operator patched me straight through to the Mounties, and 1 was able to identify where I was to within about 50 yards, and explu.n that I wasn’t hurt but I was stuck. A police cruiser was dis- patched right away. Of course it was only a few minutes, but it seemed like hours. Rodney shivered and pressed himself against my ec. TE could see the sidewalk ar. the top of the embankment, against the skvline, and soon spotted the Mountie looking over the handrail. The phone rang. “Are you down there?” asked Constable Simkins. “Abour 5 yards down- stream from where you're looking — I’m waving now,” I replied. And visual contact was made. Simkins confirmed the Fire and Rescue Department were on their way, and told me to stay put. Not that there was much choice really, but very soon the sidewalk above was swarming with firefighters. After some discussion, 2 fireman was lowered and was wading knee-deep down- stream towards the rock where we were marooned. He con- . sidered leading us our either downstream or upstream, or straight up the bank from where we were, but soon con- firmed it was too slippery and steep for all of us to make it out under our,own steam. He radioed back up to the road for reinforcements. Soon three more firemen appeared with mountaineering gear. Rodney was bundled into a string hammock and loaded onto the back of one firefight- er — no mean feat considering the weight of the dog. I was strapped into’a rock-climber’s harness and a hard hat. Everyone waded 25 yards back upstream to a point where the -undergrowth was thinner and a climbing rope had been slung through the trees. Rodney’s firefighter went up first, the dog nat struggling in. the least but not looking very dignified cither. 1 fol lowed, having been hooked on’ to the rope by the harness, and - the other firefighters brought. - up the rear. At the top, the news that there were “no press - photographers” brought | almost. as much relief as the return to civilization itself. I faunched into profuse apologies about expending public resources, tying.-up emergency services and wast- ing hrefighecrs” time, but was reassured that the fire crew were paid to be on duty and this kind of rescue mission (which was not particularly arduous for them) provided good experience and training. I was also assured that if some- - one’s house had actually: caught fire in the middle of all this, I would just have had to wait! Meanwhiic, Rodney just sat at the top of the embankment, none the worse for his experi- ence, wondering who could have possibly caused the two fire trucks, rescue wagon, police car and some 20 firemen to be on Ais walkies route. It was just before 10am. . - After sincere thanks . and handshakes all round, 1 took - Rodney home, got out of my wet clothes and took a. hot shower. Next, I took Rodney straight down to the vet for a once-over, and he was pro- nounced a very lucky dog. A crummy Christmas: appeared to have been avoided, thanks to a textbcok operation by 'a highly wained and professional group of people...;. .. -».. ‘ vet a Pe eR ee ene