Brave Hiker Carries Wounded Pit Bull Down Mountain, Then Adopts Him

A simple hike up a mountain turned into a race against time when a woman stumbled upon a dying pit bull and decided to mount a trapped dog rescue.

Andi Davis was hiking a mountain trail in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve when she spotted the injured pit bull lying on the rocks. Fearing that the animal might be violent, Davis hesitated to approach him, but when the pit bull raised its forlorn head and looked at Davis, she knew she needed to try and help.

She approached the dog, lying helpless on the rocks, and thought that his legs must be broken. Davis gave the dog her water and soothed him. Feeling like she could finally attempt to lift the pit bull, she managed to take the 50-pound dog into her arms.

For nearly an hour, Davis carried the heavy dog down the treacherous mountainside, but managed to muster the strength to get him to the bottom, where her husband and daughter waited.

They rushed the animal to The Humane Society, where they were in for an even bigger shock.

It turns out that the pit bull hadn’t broken his legs. Rather, the dog had been shot through the neck. Since the bullet had managed to go straight through the pit bull, veterinarians didn’t need to operate. They only had to stop the bleeding. Before long, the pit bull was stable and recovering.

But one thing remained: He needed a home. The Davis family made the easy decision to adopt the pit, naming him Elijah, and he became part of the family, which includes three other dogs.

Now, Elijah has a loving home, new best friends, and a second chance at a long, happy doggy life.

To see the full story, check out the incredible video below, and make sure to SHARE this with all of the animal lovers in your life.

Editor’s Note: This piece was originally published on August 12, 2015.