After Cliffside Rescue, Dog ‘Was Giving Everyone Kisses’

A pet dog in San Francisco had a harrowing adventure after tumbling off an oceanside bluff and clinging to a narrow ledge for more than 20 minutes before being rescued by firefighters, officials said.

The brown-and-white dog had been playing with another pooch Tuesday at Fort Funston — a popular coastal park known for its steep, 200-foot bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean — when it slipped on some vegetation and lost its footing, according to San Francisco Fire Department Rescue Captain Samuel Menchaca.

Firefighters quickly responded and located the stranded animal about 40 feet below the cliff’s edge. A San Francisco police drone operator who happened to be nearby captured aerial footage of the dog’s location and relayed it to the rescue team.

With the help of ropes and harnesses, one firefighter rappelled down the sandy cliff, secured the 40-pound dog, and safely lifted it back to the top.

“He was happy — he knew he got rescued,” Captain Menchaca said. “He was wagging his tail and giving everyone kisses.” The dog was reunited with its relieved owner shortly afterward.

Menchaca urged visitors to Fort Funston to remain on marked trails, keep pets leashed, and watch their children closely near the cliffs. “You may think it’s just a little hill, but it’s a serious drop,” he warned. He added that firefighters frequently perform rescues in the area and are always ready — though they’d prefer that no one, human or animal, ever needs saving.