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A pet dog fell off an oceanfront cliff in San Francisco and spent more than 20 minutes clinging to a narrow ledge until firefighters came to its aid, officials said.
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The brown-and-white dog was playing with another dog Tuesday at Fort Funston, a coastal park with steep bluffs that can drop up to 200 feet (61 meters) down to the beach. The dog, who was unfamiliar with the area, slipped on vegetation, lost his grip and fell off a cliff, said rescue Capt. Samuel Menchaca of the San Francisco Fire Department.
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Firefighters sent crews to retrieve the dog, which had found temporary shelter on a ledge about 40 feet (12 meters) below the top of the cliff. A San Francisco police drone operator in the area heard the 911 call and took an aerial photo of the dog's location, which he gave to firefighters.
Once they knew where to find the animal, one rescuer climbed down the sandy cliff face, attached a harness to the 40-pound (18-kilogram) dog and held it as they were pulled together.
“He was happy. He knew he was saved. He was wagging his tail. He was kissing everyone,” Menchaca said.
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Rescuers reunited the dog with its owner.
Menchaca urged people to stay on marked trails, keep their dogs on leashes and keep small children nearby.
“You might think it’s a small mound or hill, but it’s actually a significant drop,” he said.
Unfortunately, firefighters have to do a lot of rescues in the area, Menchaca said. They train for it and will always be there, but they don't want people to get hurt, he said.
“One of the best ways to stay safe on these cliffs and in our beautiful seaside parts of San Francisco is to stay on marked trails,” he said.
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