Dog rescued from boulders by VC Fire up for adoption


A German shepherd mix who was rescued after she was trapped between boulders for at least four days is now up for adoption. Special adoption applications will be accepted through 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19.

County Animal Services says the 1-year-old dog was probably chasing a rabbit or a squirrel in a rugged area of Valley Center when she got her head stuck between two boulders.

A young German shepherd mix is recovering from her injuries Friday after finding herself trapped between two boulders since at least Monday.

A Valley Center couple could hear a dog yelping but couldn’t find the animal until Thursday. She was stuck in a rocky and rugged ravine just outside their property. They recognized the dog as a stray they had been feeding for a while.

County Animal Control Officer Denise Gove and firefighters from the Valley Center Fire Protection District worked for one-and-a-half hours before they could finally free the dog. 

A County animal control officer called in firefighters from the Valley Center Fire Protection District and they all climbed in to reach the animal.

After trying several methods to release her, the crews used rescue tools to shift and chip away at the rocks until they freed the dog.

A firefighter carried the 40-pound dog out, and she was taken to the County’s animal shelter in Carlsbad.

Rocksann the German Shepherd who was rescued from being trapped last week is almost ready to be adopted by a loving home.

The dog, named Rocksann by firefighters, appeared fine but her face began to swell, and County animal medical teams found crushing injuries alongside her head and sides. She underwent treatment to repair the wounds and will need ongoing care as she heals.  

If she hadn’t been rescued, they say Rocksann would have probably died from lack of water in another day or so. She will need ongoing care as she heals but County Animal Services says she’ll be ready to go to a forever home as soon as next week.

Gove says it was amazing that wildlife didn’t get to the dog and that she was actually found.

“She was stuck in an unusual location and being a black and tan shepherd, looking from a distance you couldn’t see her,” said Gove.

Rocksann is about a year old and didn’t have a microchip.  County Animal Services says it’s a good reminder to microchip your dogs. They offer microchipping services to residents in the unincorporated areas during regular business hours.

A three-day hold to see if an owner would claim her ended Sunday. A finder’s hold was also released. 

Rocksann is described as a lively girl and seems to love everyone she meets. The young dog is also a door-dasher and may want to run fast and furious if left unrestrained, so some training is recommended.

The special adoption applications can be dropped off at any of the department’s two shelters or emailed to dasinfo@sdcounty.ca.gov.

After Animal Services reviews all of the applications, the leading candidates will be invited to visit Rocksann at the shelter in Carlsbad. The staff will then select a new home for the dog.

It took firefighters 90 minutes to safely extract the young German shepherd from these rocks.

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