Dogged crew never gave up on Micky

AFTER surviving seven freezing nights in the wilderness, Micky the dog is finally back where she belongs – in front of the warm fire at her Tallebudgera home.

The plucky pooch was missing for more than a week in dense bushland before rescue firefighters found her on a ledge 20m down a steep drop into Currumbin Valley yesterday afternoon.

Firefighter Carlos Toman released her into the welcome arms of her carers, Cathy and Graham Batey, after hoisting the five-year-old american staffordshire terrier up the cliff in a heavy-duty bag.

“Thank you, it’s been a mammoth effort,” Ms Batey said, thanking all those involved, including technical rescue firefighters, local volunteers and the RSPCA.

She said Micky was an inside dog and had never slept outside before her adventure.

The rescue mission began on Reynolds Dr at Currumbin Valley on Tuesday after resident Timothy Barr said his children, Troy, 10 and Evelyn, 8, heard the dog whining but couldn’t work out what the noise was.

“I told my dad I heard yelping, I freaked out,” Troy said. “I was too frightened to have a look.”

However, Tuesday afternoon’s rescue was cut short after as the daylight faded.

Early yesterday locals called to Micky through the bushland, but she didn’t respond, prompting her rescuers to fear the worst.

But as Tomewin local Tom Thompson, who also tried to find her on Tuesday, led two firefighters up a small trail just before 10am, she began to yelp and bark again.

Yet within an hour firefighters returned empty-handed, leaving Mr Thompson in the undergrowth to hold position because they couldn’t go any further, while they continued to search for Micky from the top of the mountain.

The crew rappelled down the side of a Trees Rd property, almost immediately finding her stranded below.

“It was tricky to pinpoint where Micky was (initially),” Inspector Scott Beasley said. “But (Mr Toman) came straight down on top of her and made friends quickly.”

The operation lasted just under four hours and NRL great Glenn Lazarus also helped to pull the lucky pup out as an RSPCA volunteer.

Micky will be taken to the vet for a check over and apart from being tired and thirsty, appeared unharmed.

Picture: GLENN HAMPSON AMANDA ROBBEMOND amanda.robbemond@news.com.au Micky at home with Cathy Barry in front of the fire after her rescue.

Firies Paul Beasley, Carlos Toman and Paul Beck comfort Micky after the rescue.

Micky emerges from the wilderness.

Glenn Lazarus (front) joins the rescue effort.

Firefighter Carlos Toman at the scene.