18-month-old Dakota is recovering after falling 200 feet, vets say it's a miracle
MORAVIA --
18-month-old Dakota is on the road to recovery after surviving a frightening 200 foot fall.
"We just panicked," said owner Barry Bourgeois. "We couldn't actually see him fall but he just disappeared and we panicked."
Last week, the Oswego County family was at Fillmore Glen State Park in Moravia when Dakota spotted a chipmunk, and took off. His leash snapped, and before his family knew it, Dakota was sliding off a cliff and falling deep into the gorge.
Fire crews were called in to rescue the dog and Dakota was rushed to a veterinary office.
Dakota broke one vertebrae in his back, which he had surgery to fix. Vets say he's one incredibly lucky dog. "We went down to the vet, to see if he was going to be okay and we're just happy that he didn't break any legs," said Holly Bourgeois.
"He didn't fracture anything internally, no internal bleeding, he just missed all those hard spots until that one last rock, that did him in," said his owner Barry.
Right now, the German Shepherd and Golden Retriever mix is stitched up and back in the arms of his family, who is helping him every step of the way.
"He's doing pretty well," said McKenna Bourgeois. "He's cute, fluffy and playful."
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