My great dane is in a tree stand!

[suzanne]

I am really concerned. I took children up in a 40 foot high tree stand to watch the sun set and hope to see a wild animal. The ladder is almost stright up and made from cedar logs. We thought we saw a deer then heard a friendly bark in our ears. Tanker ,our 2 year old great dane, had climbed up with us. We waited for help. Grandad arrived. The dog would not let him carry him down or come down. I was going to stay in the tree stand all night with dog and two children. The tree stand has a tin roof. The light rain changed to a heavy thunderstorm. Grandad came to get us through the storm and would not let me stay. The dog would not let him carry him or come down. I did not want to go but did. I am concerned. I have the alarm set for 5AM. (before dawn) and I am going to get my son to assist in getting Tanker down. I probably will not sleep. I pray he stays up there and is not injured. I don't want my family injured either. I am very concerned about my dog. He weighs at least 180 lbs. We had a good time and we love our dog. I just got back. The tree stand is 10 acres away.

[DaveM]

Did he get his deer?

Seriously, I understand your concern. Do let us know how it turns out--I trust all will be well.

[SongDragon]

Do not worry, though dogs are notoriously bad climbers they often seem to get themselves into this. I knew a dog when I was very young who would climb into the tree fort with us so she could keep an eye on us, and then she taught my labrador to do the same thing when there was scaffolding around the house. I found out it always seemed worse when I tried to carry her, because she would panic and leap from my arms anyway. If we went down without her, however, she would go down as best she could and end up jumping the last few rungs when her body got moving too fast for her to catch herself on the rungs.

I hope everything will work out with your great dane as well, because that is one heavy dog! He weighs more than I do! I'll keep him and you in my thoughts tonight.

~Song

[mixtymotions]

Trying to carry a 180lb dog in one's arms, 40' down sounds very, very dangerous, both to the rescuer and the dog. Personally, I'd call the fire department, and yes, sometimes they charge for animal rescue but Tanker is family! Even if you could manage to fashion a harness of some sort to lower him in, it will be 180lbs of wiggling, struggling dog at the end of 40' of rope. Please, call the experts.

[Eva]

I agree with Mixty here. Call an expert. That way it's safer for everyone.

Eva

[Oak Kitten]

Suzanne,

I know how worried you must be about your dog, I am sure it is very trying for you and your family.

If you have no luck with the Fire Department, I suggest you try the local humane/animal rescue organization, or even the local utility companies; telephone, cable, electric because they have bucket trucks on hydraulic lifts that could be used. We had an incident here recently where an osprey was trapped in fishing line and hanging upside down from its nest on top of a telephone pole. The local electric company sent a crew out to free it.

Please be careful and I hope everything works out for the best.

Oak Kitten

[ponytail]

I just said a prayer that you manage to get the dog down safely. Please let us know what happens.

[RedjackRyan]

I'm reminded of a story a departed friend delighted in telling of his time aboard a submarine during WWII. This sub's mascot was a bulldog with a flatulence problem who had gotten very good at negotiating the ladders on the sub.. While he was a capable climber, he preferred waiting for someone going in the direction he wished to travel and then he'd climb on their back hooking his front legs over the shoulders.

Unfortunately this boat got a new commanding officer who wasn't aware of the dog's delicate condition.. one day out of Freemantle, the skipper was in the conning tower and the dog let go a silent but truly deadly torpedo. According to my friend, the last anyone saw of that dog he was heading saucer over teacup down into the bowels of the submarine followed by a barrage of bad language and the irate skipper.


That somewhat amusing story aside, i too offer my prayers for your dog's safe return to the ground.

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Tanker is down. I dont know how. but all is well. Hellos to everyone!

[Oak Kitten]

Good News!

I am glad everything worked out - I would love to know the details of how one gets a Great Dane out of a tree . . .

Oak

[DaveM]

Does rather sound like the opening of a great "rimshot" joke, doesn't it? "How do you get a Great Dane out of a tree?"....

Suggestions, anyone?

[SongDragon]

Wow, I'm glad to hear he's down. I kept re-reading that and going "now what?". I had a few ideas, such as a harness and pully system... but however you got him down I'm glad. I couldn't see a poor dog being stuck up in a tree too long and getting scared enough to try something foolish (like my dog always does).

~Song

[Eva]

Harness and pully system. It would be the ride of his life. I think I would love to try it once myself too. I'll be upo the ladder in a minute guys!

But seriously... I'm glad he is safe and out of the tree. Now take that ladder away from there before he climbs up again.

Eva

[carol From Pa]

I too would have called the fire company. after all pets are only family members with mor hair.

[ponytail]

Now that he's down safely, I can ask: did anyone else picture this happening to Scooby Doo?:o

[Eva]

Now that he's down safely, I can ask: did anyone else picture this happening to Scooby Doo?:o

Yikes!

Eva

[Dar]

Glad he's down. I'd love to hear how it was accomplished!

[david uk]

thanks for relaying the news Randy... i was really worried for the 10 minutes it told me to get down to the good news bit....

yay!

Suzanne, how was he when you went to get him in the morning?

hugs

[mixtymotions]

Yes suzanne, inquiring minds wish to know how Tanker got down - the suspense is killing me, like waiting for Paul Harvey to tell "the rest of the story".

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

thanks for relaying the news Randy... i was really worried for the 10 minutes it told me to get down to the good news bit....

yay!

Suzanne, how was he when you went to get him in the morning?

hugs

david, that report came from the ellusive and often nearly invisible Betty... but then alas I won't express my thoughts about such a serious issue... but if I were to it might go something like:

knock knock...

who's there?

Doginatree

Doginatree who........



or perhaps

Where does a 180 lb great dane in a tree land?

Any damn place it wants!!!

Thats said... best to all... especially Tanker

R. from pa

[suzanne]

Thank each of you for your ideas and prayers. I was up all night worrying. @ 5AM my son and his wife went down with me. Tanker was standing with his paws on the rail of the tree house. He was very happy to see us. My son, Shawn, climbed the ladder and tried to coax the dog down. He would not come. So he carried and pulled Tanker carfully down. Tanker is fine. He ate, drank and slept until noon. My picnic basket and pencils and water color pad are still up there wet. I will go tomorrow morning and get them down. Thank you all for caring. My dogs are family.

[Oak Kitten]

Suzanne,

I am so glad to know that Tanker was able to get down without sustaining any injuries. Thanks for letting us know about the happy ending. Give him a good belly scratching for me.

Oak

[suzanne]

I thought I posted what happened but do not see it here. May be my story is lost in space or I just did not submit correctly. I worried all night. @ 5 AM my son, his wife and I went down to the tree stand . Tanker was standing on his hind legs with his paws on the rail excitedly walking around. He looked like a tall ,dark, excited dog . He was happy to see us. My son tried to talk him down and he would not come. He had to carefully carry and pull him down. The dog is safe. He ate, drank and slept until noon. He was tired and happy. Thank you for your prayers and concern. My dogs are truly loved and part of my family. I don't even realize they are dogs . They are precious. Thank you.

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Knock knock.....

Who's there?

Tanker...

Tanker who?

Tanker you for getting me out of this damn tree...

:o

Best

R. from Pa

[DaveM]

Rimshot!

Glad all is well, mind.

[Margay]

I had to think of Tanker when I read this news story:

http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4879

It's about a sheep and a tree, need I say more?

[DaveM]

I think I'm too scared to click on the link just now....then again.....if it has anything to do with the old Monty Python sketch....