A dog who was trapped underground in a cave is now recovering at an animal shelter, thanks to two cavers who brought her to safety in a heroic, 11th-hour rescue mission. To thank the cavers—Dave Jackson and Jesse Rochette—for their lifesaving endeavor, PETA sent them each a Compassionate Action Award.

An Excursion Leads to an Emergency Rescue

Dave Jackson and Jesse Rochette of the Colorado-based educational cave-simulation company CaveSim were exploring Giant Caverns in Narrows, Virginia, when they spotted a dog who had apparently fallen into a 40- to 50-foot deep cave littered with the bones of animals.

Equipped with some rescue gear the cavers had on hand, Rochette repelled down and approached the dog, who was reportedly shivering, had an injured eye and leg, and looked starved. Over the course of three hours, the team created a makeshift harness, strapped the dog to Rochette’s chest, and hauled her out of the cave.

As the two of us cleared the edge of the pit and made it to fresh air, she instantly perked up,” Rochette said. “She lifted her head up and started sniffing the air.”

The team then took the dog—whom they affectionately named Sparsy, which stands for “small party assisted rescue canine”—to a veterinary hospital for treatment. Sparsy was eventually transferred to Giles County Animal Shelter, where she’s reportedly recovering well.

Be a Hero for Animals Like Dave and Jesse

Never turn away from someone who needs help. If you spot an animal in imminent danger, please contact your local police department immediately. If it’s unresponsive, call PETA right away—day or night—at 757-622-7382. Learn more about how to be prepared for an animal emergency here.

Big or small, every action for animals matters. Whether it’s asking a neighbor to bring a chained dog inside, choosing to adopt and never shop, or reporting animal abuse or neglect to the police, anyone can be a hero for animals in their community.

The post Cavers Nab PETA Award for Rescuing Dog Trapped in Giant Caverns appeared first on PETA.