Search and rescue operation goes to the dog

Published on July 24, 2026

The Mono County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team were kept busy through late June, and things have not slowed down for the team of volunteers in the first weeks of July. The team has logged nearly 280 volunteer hours so far this month.

Inyo County Search and Rescue is not far behind, helping a hiker with a head laceration and another with heat-related illness in the first days of the month.

Dog stranded on the Parker Lake trail

At 5:49 p.m. Saturday, July 4, the Mono County Sheriff’s Office paged the SAR team to assist a hiker whose dog, Willow, was unable to return to the Parker Lake trailhead. The owner reported that Willow would not eat or drink and, at 68 pounds, was too large to be carried out.

Puppy Rescue Base was established at the Parker Lake trailhead. Operations deployed a team of five up the trail with human medical equipment, K9-specific medical equipment, and a wheeled litter.

One of the team’s SAR K9 handlers took the lead in assessing the sick pup and determined that Willow was suffering from hyponatremia — aka, low sodium — and swimmer’s tail, an overuse injury that causes a dog’s tail to go limp. Both can be caused by extreme exertion, and hyponatremia can be caused by a dog drinking too much water.

Glucose, an electrolyte broth mixture, and some light first aid for the swimmer’s tail perked Willow up enough that both dog and owner were able to make their way off the trail under their own power.

The team of five volunteers also utilized the litter to transport the K9 owner’s heavy pack back to the trailhead.

“The operation was terminated at 8:40 p.m., and post-mission pets promptly ensued, bringing joy to all!” Mono County SAR wrote on Facebook.