Frightened dog escapes death, rescued from Poland’s highest mountain in 10-hour operation

WARSAW, Poland – The brown-eyed dog was abandoned on Poland’s highest mountain, possibly taken there to die. Instead he found new friends and a new life.

Using ropes and chains, a group of climbers found him and carried the frightened 10-kilogram (22-pound) animal down from the craggy, icy mountain peak.

Anna Plaszczyk, an animal rights activist, said she believes the black-and-tan mongrel could not have made it up the 2,500-meter (8,200-foot) high Rysy mountain by himself and was taken there to die.

She says “it was a death sentence.” She is urging any witnesses to come forward and wants prosecutors to file charges of possible animal cruelty.

Dariusz Slaby, one of the climbers, said the rescue Friday in Poland’s Tatra mountains took about 10 hours.

Another climber, Krystian Panczuk, told the TVN24 news station that his group called the Polish mountain rescue services asking for their help, but they refused, saying they only rescue humans.

The dog has been given a new name, Rysa, after the mountain, and is waiting to be adopted.