A dog named Carl had a frightening adventure in Tennessee after falling down a steep cliff and becoming stranded on a narrow ledge for nearly 17 hours.
The City of Dickson Fire Department in Dickson County, Tennessee, shared on social media that multiple emergency departments worked together to rescue the five-year-old Lagotto Romagnolo after he became trapped following the fall.
Carl's owner, Scott Grissom, 65, said the incident happened on Aug. 13 at a friend's farm about 45 minutes west of Nashville. Grissom and his friend had allowed their dogs to explore the property and splash in a nearby creek.
Later that evening, shortly before 6 p.m., the group drove to a lookout point above a cliff on a neighboring farm. When Grissom called for Carl and the dog failed to return, he quickly realized something was wrong.
Then came the sound that confirmed his fears: Carl was barking from somewhere below the cliff.
Grissom told The Washington Post that the cliff was roughly 200 feet high and dropped almost straight down. According to a local news report cited by Storyful, Carl had fallen approximately 120 feet before landing on a ledge.
The frightened dog remained stranded there overnight, spending roughly 17 hours in an extremely difficult position while rescuers worked to determine the safest way to reach him.
Eventually, crews from several departments joined forces to bring Carl back to safety. The coordinated rescue highlighted the challenges emergency responders can face when animals become trapped in steep or difficult terrain.
For Carl's family, the long wait finally ended with the outcome they had hoped for: their beloved dog was rescued and brought back after his terrifying overnight ordeal.
What began as an ordinary afternoon of exploring quickly became a dramatic rescue mission—and Carl's unexpected cliffside adventure is one his family certainly won't forget.
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Grissom told Storyful that he was terrified for Carl, his beloved companion who had remained by his side since his wife died five years ago.
“I was heartbroken,” Grissom said, describing how frightened he was while waiting for his dog to be rescued.
The rescue itself presented a significant challenge. According to the City of Dickson Fire Department, Carl was stranded on a ledge approximately 100 feet above a steep embankment, making it too dangerous for rescuers to simply reach him from below.
Members of the department’s Special Operations Response Team were deployed onto the cliff and used specialized high-angle rope rescue systems to reach the trapped dog.
The department explained that these mechanical advantage systems allow rescuers to safely lower and raise both responders and victims—including animals—during difficult technical rescues.
For the firefighters involved, the operation was exactly the kind of emergency their specialized training prepares them to handle. After spending hours stranded on the cliff, Carl was finally within reach of the rescue team.
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Video captured by Bert Echols of nearby Timber Ridge Farm and shared with Storyful shows the dramatic rescue operation.
In the footage, two members of the fire department's special operations team can be seen descending the steep cliff while secured to ropes. They carefully rappel toward Carl, who is standing on a small embankment far below.
Once one of the rescuers reaches the frightened dog, he carefully takes Carl into his arms and places him inside a secure duffel bag designed to help transport him safely.
With Carl safely secured, the rescue team works together to raise the bag back up the steep cliff. The coordinated effort allows the rescuers to gradually bring Carl to safety while maintaining control throughout the difficult climb.
After spending nearly 17 hours stranded on the ledge, Carl was finally on his way back to his worried owner.
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At the end of the successful rescue, Carl was finally reunited with his emotional owner, Scott Grissom. A photo shared by the City of Dickson Fire Department shows the pair together surrounded by members of the fire crews who helped bring the dog to safety.
Thankfully, Carl's injuries were far less serious than the circumstances might have suggested. Grissom told The Washington Post that a veterinarian examined the five-year-old dog and confirmed that he had suffered only minor injuries.
After experiencing some stiffness for a couple of days, Carl quickly returned to his normal routine.
“He’s running around and chasing balls like nothing ever happened,” Grissom told the outlet.
For everyone involved, the happy ending was a huge relief after hours of uncertainty. Bert Echols of Timber Ridge Farm, who captured video of the rescue, summed up the remarkable outcome to Storyful: “It is a miracle that that dog lived.”
After falling roughly 120 feet and spending nearly 17 hours stranded on a cliffside ledge, Carl made it home safely—and was soon back to doing what he loves most.
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