Stuck on Oregon Coast Cliff, Easily-Spooked Dog Makes Rescue Tense for Cannon Beach Responders

Published 06/07/26 at 6:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Cannon Beach, Oregon) – A trip to the Oregon coast went to the dogs, so to speak, after someone's fur baby wandered way off track and fell down a cliff.

Cannon Beach Rural Fire and Protection District (CBRFPD) said a high-angle rope rescue team from their agency saved a dog stranded on a cliff at Ecola State Park on Saturday afternoon after the animal had been missing for roughly two hours.

According to district public information office Koa Lyu, the incident began around 3:30 p.m. on June 6, 2026, when Cannon Beach Fire District Deputy Chief Jason Smith, who was conducting a routine patrol in the Ecola State Park area, was notified by Oregon State Park Rangers of a missing dog. Smith responded to the park and met with the dog’s owners, who said the dog had become startled while hiking and ran off into the surrounding terrain. The owners had been searching but were unable to locate the animal.

Ecola State Park becomes nothing but sheer cliffs at one point along its trails and stays that way until the next trailhead.

While the Deputy Chief was gathering information, two individuals leaving a nearby trail approached and asked whether he was searching for a dog. They reported seeing a dog stranded on a steep cliffside. The Deputy Chief requested assistance from the Cannon Beach Police Department, specifically asking for the department’s drone operator to help locate the pet.

The north Oregon coast landmark has had a rather rich history of rescues: Intense History at Oregon Coast's Ecola State Park: Murder, Landslide, Explorers

Police deployed a drone and quickly discovered the husky was about 100 feet down a steep cliff face. Based on the location and the steep terrain, Smith activated the Cannon Beach Fire District’s High Angle Rope Rescue Team through emergency dispatch.

With assistance from the two reporting individuals, arriving rope rescue personnel confirmed the dog’s position and developed a plan using high-angle rope rescue techniques.

“Rescuers hiked to a position above the dog and established two rope systems anchored at the top of the cliff,” Lyu said.

An initial plan was formulated, calling for two rescuers to descend to the imperiled pup. However, the dog was easily spooked and as the first rescuer approached the dog was frightened and moved farther away – on terrain that was already increasingly hazardous. This created a much more tense situation and additional challenges that would now prevent the second responder from safely accessing the area.

“Demonstrating exceptional skill, adaptability, and composure, the first rescuer carefully traversed the cliff face and successfully made contact with the dog,” Lyu said. “The rescuer secured the animal using its harness and then attached the dog to himself for the ascent. Once both were secured, the rope rescue team above safely hoisted the rescuer and dog back to the top of the cliff.”

The dog was reunited with its owners and, aside from minor scratches, appeared to be in good condition. It was transported to a veterinarian for further evaluation.

“We are extremely proud of our personnel and the countless hours they dedicate to training and preparation,” Smith said. “The success of this rescue operation is a direct result of teamwork, planning, and the high level of training maintained by our rescue personnel.”

The Cannon Beach Fire District thanked the Cannon Beach Police Department for its drone operations and assistance in locating the dog. The district also expressed appreciation to Seaside Fire & Rescue for sending a fire engine to provide station coverage during the incident, ensuring continued emergency response capabilities throughout the district while rescue operations were underway.

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