Dog Rescued After Three Days Stranded on a North Carolina Cliff — Climbers Earn PETA Award

Illustration of the rescue, not a photo of the actual rescue.

A dog that spent three days stranded on a narrow ledge roughly 200 feet up a North Carolina cliff is safe at home tonight, thanks to four climbers who went up after dark to bring him down. The rescue, carried out on October 19 at Ramsey Cliff, has now earned Pisgah Climbing School PETA's Compassionate Business Award — a reminder that sometimes the best news starts with people refusing to walk away.

What happened

The dog, a hunting companion, ended up trapped on the cliff during a chase in bear season. He was stuck on a ledge about 200 feet up, with no way down on his own. His owner and several others tried to reach him but were forced to turn back because of the dangerous rock face, according to local station WLOS. For three days the dog waited there without food or water while help was organised.

Three days is a long time for any animal to survive exposed on a cliff ledge. Every hour that passed made the rescue harder — and more urgent. The dog was frightened, hungry and alone, and the terrain that had trapped him was too steep and unstable for an ordinary rescue attempt.

How it unfolded

On the night of October 19, Pisgah Climbing School founder Karsten Delap and three colleagues set out on the rescue. They trekked about half a mile into the remote area around Ramsey Cliff, working by headlamp over loose rocks and unstable boulders to reach the stranded dog.

Delap, who has been climbing for more than two decades, later described it as the most technical dog rescue he had ever undertaken. Once the team reached the ledge, Delap won the frightened dog's trust with treats, secured him in a harness, and helped lower him safely down the cliff.

Minutes later, the dog was back on solid ground and swiftly reunited with his relieved owner. He had gone without food or water for several days, but he was recovering, according to PETA.

Where things stand now

PETA has honoured Pisgah Climbing School with its Compassionate Business Award for the rescue. The team received a framed certificate and vegan chocolates in recognition of their work.

PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O'Brien praised the climbers, saying the dog "was trapped in a terrifying predicament and would have died if not for these climbers' skill, determination, and compassion." She added that PETA encourages everyone to follow their example and do everything they can to help an animal in danger.

The story is a small one in the sweep of the news, but it is the kind that matters: four people with the right skills, a long walk in the dark, and a dog who gets to go home. Sometimes good news is simply someone showing up when it would have been easier not to.

For more uplifting stories, visit the Daily New World homepage.

Source: Parade, November 9, 2026; reporting also by WLOS and PETA.