BARK FROM THE BRINK Firefighters’rescue mission
A dog owner told of her terror after her pet shattered two legs when he plunged 30ft down a ravine at the Gleniffer Braes.
Angela Herbert, 41, feared beagle Rocky was a goner when he disappeared through a gap in a fence bordering the treacherous ravine.
She raced to the edge after hearing howls of agony only
to discover the stricken pooch lying in a heap at the bottom.
Firefighters had to abseil down and hoist him out on a stretcher during a four- hour rescue operation.
Angela said: “Rocky disappeared from view – then we heard yelping.
“The fall must have been 30 feet, it was terrifying. “He was lying there helpless. “His legs were in bits. “We jumped in the car and met him at the vet’s – but were told he might not make it.”
Angela and boyfriend Dave Picken, 27, were walking Rocky and their three other dogs when the drama began.
They were heading in the direction of Paisley Golf Club after crossing Sergeant Law Road when he ran out of view.
The couple ran to the hidden ravine after hearing his yelps.
A fence supposed to block off the gorge had rotted and collapsed in swathes.
Dave tried to clamber down, but his path was blocked by fly-tipped waste.
Fireman had to use ropes to drop to the bottom of the gorge and rescue the badly-injured pet.
Rocky broke both front legs during the free fall.
He was rushed for treatment at Love Street Vets.
They carried out scans before he was referred for emergency surgery at an animal hospital in Glasgow.
Letting agent Angela added: “He broke one leg near the knee and another at his paw.
“We were told he would need at least two operations and might need to have the limbs amputated.
“It was touch and go whether he would make it.”
Surgeons put metal pins in Rocky’s legs to try and piece them back together.
The Gleniffer Braes is a major tourist attraction and draws tens of thousands of visitors every year.
Angela, bank worker Dave and Rocky were walking at the Paisley beauty spot when he fell around 2pm last Monday.
The mum-of-two lives near The Braes and has called for urgent action to rope off the drop and warn walkers.
She continued: “It was absolutely horrifying.
“There’s no way he would have made it without the help of the fire service.
“I’m only glad my children weren’t there to see what happened.
“There were no signs warning about the ravine.
“If a child headed for it, I dread to think what might have happened.”
Rocky has one leg in plaster and another bandaged as he recovers at home following the accident.
Renfrewshire Council says it will take action to repair the barrier blocking off the ravine.
A spokesman said: “We are aware of the incident and plan to install around 100 metres of fencing where the walkway is near the gorge, with appropriate signage at either end of the path.
“The Scottish Outdoor Access Code states that dogs should be kept under close control at all times and we would always recommend that people keep to the designated walkways.”