Heartwarming rescue of Sable the dog from a cliff in Cape Town
A late-afternoon adventure at Hillcrest Estate quarry turned into an unexpected rescue mission on Saturday evening after a young German Shorthaired Pointer, Sable, took his enthusiasm for dassie-chasing a little too far.
Image: Nicole Fourie/ WSAR
What began as a routine afternoon outing turned into a long, anxious night for one Cape Town family after their beloved dog, Sable, became stranded high on a cliff face.
The two-and-a-half-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer had been chasing dassies at Hillcrest Estate quarry on Saturday when his curiosity got the better of him. Scrambling about 20 metres up an 80-metre rock face, Sable soon found himself stuck on a narrow ledge, unable to find his way back down.
When he did not return home, his owner went searching and eventually spotted him, perched and stranded, waiting helplessly.
The adventurous two-and-a-half-year-old had managed to scramble roughly 20 metres up an 80-metre cliff face, only to discover that climbing up is often easier than coming down.
Image: Marais Schutte/ WSAR
As daylight faded, a carefully coordinated rescue effort began. Teams from Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) and the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service worked together to reach the frightened pup, rigging ropes and preparing for a delicate descent in the dark.
A K9 Search and Rescue Association of South Africa operator was lowered down to Sable, followed by a City Fire and Rescue specialist, as rescuers inched closer to the stranded dog.
WSAR spokesperson David Nel said the moment required both skill and a gentle approach.
When he didn’t return home with his companion, his owner went searching and eventually found him perched on a small ledge, looking decidedly stuck and clearly feeling a bit sorry for himself. Technical teams from Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) were called to join forces with colleagues from City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service to assist.
Image: David Nel/ WSAR
“After a short round of negotiations, helped along by some premium droëwors, Sable decided to cooperate with his rescuers,” Nel said.
Once secured in a specialised harness and tethered to his rescuer, Sable was slowly lowered down the cliff, where his relieved family waited below.
The operation wrapped up shortly before 1am on Sunday, ending hours of worry with a joyful reunion.
Rescuers established a technical rope system and carefully lowered a K9 Search and Rescue operator to the stranded pup, followed closely by a Fire & Rescue specialist.
Image: Naadirah te Water Naude
The rescue is one of many carried out by WSAR teams across Cape Town’s rugged terrain, where volunteers often respond to emergencies involving both people and animals.
Nel said the outcome reflected the spirit behind their work.
“Safe My Mate applies whether they walk on two legs or four,” he said.
After a short round of diplomatic negotiations, involving the strategic deployment of some premium WOOLWORTHS droëwors, the young adventurer was convinced that the rescuers were indeed there to help. Once safely secured in a specialised harness and tethered to his rescuer, the friendly fellow was carefully lowered down the cliff and reunited with his very relieved family.
Image: Nicole Fourie
Back at home, Sable has traded cliffside adventures for comfort, spending his days resting, soaking up attention, and sticking to safer pursuits, with fetch now firmly preferred over dassie-chasing.