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Man, 2 Dogs Fall Off Ravine at Deukmejian Wilderness Park

Fire officials are responding to Deukmejian Wilderness Park, where a man and two dogs fell from a steep incline along the Rim of the Valley trail.

A 58-year-old man fell about 35 feet when he became entangled with two dog leashes, according to the Glendale News-Press.

Rescuers were trying to help two trapped dogs who are stuck on a steep incline at , Sheriff's Reserve Chief Mike Leum told Patch. 

Bill Smith was allegedly hiking the Rim of the Valley trail with his 2-year-old Labrador when a woman was hiking with her dog around a bend about 1:55 p.m. Thursday, the News-Press reported. 

"He was going after one of his dogs [when he fell]," Leum said. 

The dogs were excited and Smith was caught in the leashes and toppled over the steep ledge, Jan Smith, the victim's wife told the News-Press. 

Glendale Fire Department, Los Angeles City Fire Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Search and Rescue all responded to the scene, Leum said. 

Smith's injuries were described as mild, with scratches from sliding down the hill, Leum said. As for the dogs, they were not injured, he said. 

“The dogs seem to be fine. Everybody’s fine,” Sheriff’s Reserve Chief Mike Leum said.  

Check back with Patch for more updates. 

Leslie LeCheminant March 1, 2012 at 09:00 pm
Thanks for the update. Good to know we have a local source for info about our area. Keep up the good work!
Kendor Nishio March 1, 2012 at 09:21 pm
I heard the helicopters flying low, so i grabbed my camera and ran outside to see what was going on. i snapped a bunch of pictures, i posted the best ones here.
danette March 1, 2012 at 09:33 pm
Thanks for keeping us posted.
chuck weiss March 1, 2012 at 11:47 pm
thank you for the update! We saw the helicopters above us and wondered what the commotion was all about.
Carmelita Haltom March 2, 2012 at 12:09 am
I will go to Glendale police tomorrow to make sure Mr. Smith gets cited for no leash on his dog, which almost got me and my dogs killed.
Leash laws are in place for a reason.
Carmelita Haltom March 2, 2012 at 12:09 am
Thank you so much, Fireman Tucker, who carried Sheba back up the cliff.
Nicole Charky (Editor) March 2, 2012 at 12:53 am
Hi Kendor, thank you for posting those photos. You had some excellent shots.
Nicole Charky (Editor) March 2, 2012 at 12:54 am
Hi Carmelita, were you on the trail coming around a turn when you and your dog ran into Smith and his lab? Are you injured or scratched up at all?
Carmelita Haltom March 2, 2012 at 02:15 am
I was standing in the turnout of the trail because I saw this man with his unleashed 100 lb Lab coming down. So, I wrapped the 2 leashes of my dogs around my hand and moved as far off the trail as I could.
He comes down and says, "I don't have a leash on my dog and I don't even have a leash, is that gonna be OK with you?" I said, "No, it's not." As he got closer, his dog decided to come up to my two and my 8 yr old female Lab/mix wasn't happy and they tangled. My hand was still wrapped in the leashes. As they pulled all together down the narrow trail, Bill tried to get them all apart. I let go because they almost pulled me over the edge. The 2 Labs rolled over the ledge and he went after his dog yelling, " I can't loose my dog!", as I watched my dog fall over the next ledge. I assumed she was dead.
Carmelita Haltom March 2, 2012 at 02:30 am
I posted a picture of the chopper pulling him up after they pulled him up the cliff.
He never said a word to us... The picture of our Sheba doesn't show her injuries, but the vet will tell us if there's more than the gashes on her face.
Nicole Charky (Editor) March 2, 2012 at 02:46 am
Thank you for reading Montrose Patch. If it weren't for my readers I couldn't possibly always know what's going on. I really appreciate news tips. If you ever have one please feel free to email at nicole.charky@patch.com, or post on facebook.com/montrosepatch or tweet me at twitter.com/montrosepatch.
Nicole Charky (Editor) March 2, 2012 at 02:47 am
Thanks for following Patch Danette!
Patrick Lee March 2, 2012 at 02:07 pm
Glad your dog made it, Carmelita. This incident happened as a discussion continues about whether to allow dogs off leash on trails on Altadena Patch. Y'all may find it interesting: http://altadena.patch.com/articles/xxxx-e11bd0f7
Carmelita Haltom March 2, 2012 at 03:42 pm
Thanks, Patrick. I posted on that link about what happened.
Bottom line, it was a total disregard of the law and almost got me killed.
Patrick Lee March 2, 2012 at 03:49 pm
Thanks, Carmelita. Would you like to blog about the experience? Let me know (patrickl@patch.com) or contact Montrose Patch Editor Nicole Charky (nicole.charky@patch.com)

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