By Jonathan Morales
The Contra Costa Times
RICHMOND, Calif. — Firefighters rappelled down a cliff in Point Richmond to rescue a dog and sheep that were trapped there Tuesday afternoon.
The Richmond Fire Department received a call from animal control officers just before 4 p.m. that the two animals were stuck about halfway up a 300-foot cliff behind a wastewater treatment plant near Canal Boulevard, Battalion Chief Merlin Turner said.
Someone reportedly saw the dog chasing the sheep, he added.
Using rope, firefighters were able to descend the hill, harness the animals and bring them to safety, Turner said. The entire operation took about two hours.
“Animals are more difficult (to rescue) than people because they’re unpredictable,” Turner said.
Several onlookers tried to rescue the animals themselves, according to Turner, but were told by fire officials to stay off the hill because of safety concerns.
Both the dog and sheep are back with their owners.
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