Following a devastating landslide in Ketchikan, Alaska, last week, two beloved pet dogs have been rescued alive from the wreckage.
The amazing rescue has given a community still grappling with loss and destruction a glimpse of hope.
Triggered by days of relentless rain, the landslide tore through several neighborhoods on August 25, leaving one person dead, injuring three others, and destroying multiple homes. Among those devastated by the disaster were families who feared they had lost their beloved pets in the chaos.
Pictures of the dogs rescued from the home in Ketchikan, Alaska. They were found hidden in a gap in the collapsed house.
City of Ketchikan staff
Rescue efforts had already been underway for days when, early on the morning of September 1, a team of emergency responders made an unexpected discovery.
Travis Watkins, a geologist with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, was assessing the slide area when he heard faint whimpering from a collapsed house on Whitecliff Avenue. His alert led to a coordinated response by the Ketchikan Fire Department.
Firefighters worked to navigate through unstable rubble, heading toward the sound of the cries. Over the course of several hours, they managed to rescue two dogs from various collapsed structures in the area.
Some of the people involved in the rescue effort with Alani and Cassie.
City of Ketchikan staff
“I was elated when I saw the dog’s eyes shining back at me!” firefighter and EMT Crystal Schleiff said in a statement.
The dogs were Alani and Cassie, the beloved pets of James and Bill Montiver, whose home was pushed 47 feet downhill into a neighboring house during the landslide.
While James managed to escape, and Bill was rescued by emergency responders, Alani and Cassie were feared lost.
But thanks to the help of the first responders, the Montiver dogs were reunited with their loving family and taken to a local veterinary clinic where they were checked over.
James and Bill Montiver reunited with their dogs Cassie and Alani. Their home had been pushed 47 feet downhill into a neighboring house during the landslide.
City of Ketchikan staff
“We are humbled and blessed that Cassie and Alani have been returned to us, and our family is together again. We are so thankful to the first responders and to everyone who has helped us this week,” said dog owner James Montiver.
The wider community in Ketchikan is still dealing with the loss and destruction since the landslide.
As recovery efforts continue, state and local geologists are working together to assess the potential for further landslides.
Mayor Dave Kiffer and other local leaders are calling for a thorough investigation into the underlying causes of the landslide. In a statement, Kiffer said: “Given the recent landslides across our region, it’s clear that we face a significant issue that requires thorough investigation with the help of state geologists.”
