A fortunate canine is now safe and recovering at a shelter following a unique rescue mission conducted by a group of cavers in a western Virginia cave. The incident took place over the weekend when Dave Jackson and Jesse Rochette from CaveSim, an educational cave simulator company based in Colorado, along with others, ventured into Giant Caverns in Narrows, Giles County.

During their exploration, one member of the group spotted a dog about 40 to 50 feet underground, prompting an unexpected turn of events. Rochette, an avid dog lover, descended into the cave to help the stranded animal, offering salami to gain her trust. They provided the dog with warmth using space blankets, foam pads, and clothing found in the cave, and ensured she had water to drink by coaxing her gently.

Utilizing their rescue training and equipment, the cavers fashioned a harness from available materials to lift the dog out of the cave safely. The whole rescue operation lasted approximately three hours, culminating in a successful retrieval.

The dog, temporarily named “SPAR-C” standing for small party assisted rescue with a C for canine, was taken to a veterinary hospital and then to Giles County Animal Shelter for recovery. Despite initial uncertainty about her condition, it was confirmed that SPAR-C had no broken bones, although she required assistance to use her back legs.

As of Wednesday, SPAR-C was reported to be making significant progress in her recovery, with her medical expenses covered by the shelter. While efforts were ongoing to locate her owner, if her healing trajectory continued positively, she would soon be available for adoption to a new loving home. The shelter expressed gratitude for the successful rescue, emphasizing the resilience and hopeful future of the fortunate canine they now affectionately call Sparsy.