South Lake Tahoe, CA…Two tourists were finishing their ski day at Heavenly Village Friday night. They were playing with their dogs, Titan and Comet, on the top story of the parking garage when the unthinkable happened. Both dogs accidentally jumped off the deck and landed on the concrete 5 stories below. “We found two dogs in obviously very bad shape,” said Sgt. Jason Cheney who responded to the call with Ofc. John Spaeth.

Sgt. Cheney put the dogs in his patrol unit while dispatch started calling vets, trying to see if anyone could help. Just then, Sgt. Travis Cabral was passing by Sierra Veterinary Hospital as they were about to close for the day. He told the staff what happened and they jumped into action.

The dogs were in worse shape when they got to the clinic. Titan eventually succumbed to his injuries. The veterinarians turned their attention to saving Comet. The poor pup had a collapsed lung, a broken femur, a fractured vertebrae, and a bruised heart. The clinic had done all they could, but Comet needed more specialized care, in Reno.

“I knew they were going to have to travel through Friday night traffic. So, I called Lt. Laney and asked him if we could expedite Comet’s travel to the emergency vet in Reno,” Cheney said, “He said, “Yes!””

Comet’s owners had to help him breathe the whole way to Reno, but they got him to the emergency vet where the pup is improving. Comet isn’t out of the woods yet, but he’s now breathing on his own and waiting to heal a little more so he can have surgery.

“Its most definitely not something in our normal wheelhouse but it goes to show the nature of the human beings who serve in this profession and the hearts we have just like the citizens we serve and protect,” said Cheney.
Donations are being accepted at Sierra Veterinary Hospital. Call (775) 358-8555 to donate.