A Great Dane needed a wheeled rescue basket to get off Scottsdale’s Lost Dog Trail on September 19 after hikers and two dogs became distressed in the heat, FOX 10 Phoenix reported, citing the fire department.
Two women, a teenager and a Golden Retriever were also helped. Another hiker called for assistance because nobody in the group had a charged phone. Fire crews cooled the dogs with water and an air conditioned vehicle, and used a UTV to transport the Great Dane.
The city’s guidance for dogs in the preserve
Scottsdale’s official McDowell Sonoran Preserve guidance says it is too hot to bring a dog if the temperature will exceed 90°F at any point during the hike. That is a planning warning, not a guarantee that every dog is safe below that temperature.
The city advises carrying a fully charged phone and leaving pets at home during extreme heat. It also requires a handheld leash no longer than six feet. Hot rock surfaces create an additional risk for dogs’ paws.
FOX 10’s report does not give a later veterinary assessment of either dog. The rescue should not be read as confirmation that cooling at the scene ruled out further medical problems.
Sources
How we reported this: The rescue account comes from FOX 10’s interview with fire department spokesperson Dave Folio. The city’s preserve guidance supplies the separate planning advice.