Some events in life seem almost fated.
During a routine jog on Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California, a man encountered a situation that turned his day into an unexpected rescue mission.
It was a typical January morning, with the ocean breezes carrying their usual sounds. Yet, something unusual caught the jogger’s attention, prompting him to stop.
Curious and alert, he spotted it—a pair of distressed eyes peering from beneath a pile of rocks.
The jogger, though taken aback, promptly contacted Animal Care & Control San Francisco (ACCSF), knowing the situation was urgent since the tide was expected to rise.
Reflecting on the fortunate circumstances, the ACCSF team remarked, “It is beyond lucky that we even got this call.”
With clear directions from the jogger, animal control officer Carlos Ortega was dispatched to the scene.
By the time Ortega arrived, the jogger had gone, but finding the dog was straightforward thanks to the precise instructions left behind.
It remained unclear how the dog ended up wedged under the heavy rocks. Ortega, carefully removing them, freed her without causing harm.
The ACCSF team later speculated that the dog might have “dislodged a large rock, fell in, and the rock rolled on top.”
Throughout the ordeal, the dog trembled quietly. Once freed, Ortega identified her as a Springer Spaniel. She displayed gentleness and affection, leaning into Ortega as if to express her gratitude.
A scan of her microchip revealed her name—Gwen. Ortega then took Gwen back to her family in Noe Valley, San Francisco, where a joyful reunion awaited.
Gwen’s owners shared that she had slipped out earlier that morning. Despite their search efforts, they hadn’t been able to find her. She had wandered too far, ending up trapped beneath the rocks until the jogger’s intervention led to her rescue.
Once back at home, Gwen was safe, embraced by her family, free from her ordeal.
For Ortega, who had been involved in numerous rescues, this experience was particularly memorable.
Rescuing Gwen was a moment Ortega would always cherish, knowing how differently the day could have ended had she not been discovered in time.
The most important thing was that Gwen was back in a warm, loving environment, far from what could have been a tragic day.
