Dead dog off skyline

[out there]

Anyone know about the dead dog off the skyline trail, up near the graffiti covered rock, around the 1,800 ft area. If you leave the trail to head up to the overlook, continue along the ridge a bit, you'll smell it. Has a collar, but no visible tag. Attempted to lift the collar, but got sick and had to leave. Truly disheartening. Appears to be a mutt with a gold coat.

[cynthia23]

Which graffiti covered rock do you mean? (what does the graffiti say?) Sadly there are so many graffiti-ed rocks now.

How horrific about the dog. At some point after the body has decomposed, perhaps someone can get close enough to look at tags and notify the owner. Or, it may have belonged to some of the homeless people who camp up there. Some have dogs.

[out there]

Which graffiti covered rock do you mean? (what does the graffiti say?) Sadly there are so many graffiti-ed rocks now.

The one with the big R.I.P. with a drawing. A little ways up from where the bighorn habitat sign used to be, now just the metal pole remains. Right where you get the first look at dryfalls. I thought about it being a homeless persons, but at this time of year, in this heat, most those guys don't venture up that far. Going to go back and take a pic at the very least, will try to 'investigate' a bit more. It's possible the dog got lost and was wandering, it just seems to be an odd situation.

[cynthia23]

Strangely enough, I actually seem to see more signs of homeless folks on the Skyline trail during the summer (or at least the Desert Museum and a little above, which is as far as I venture during the hot months.) Early in the morning, I often see them coming down or signs they've been there. I think that during the hot months, when many fewer people are on the trail, they feel safer camping up there. I also think the area you are talking about (if we are talking about the same spot--where the trail turns and overlooks Dry Canyon) has an ongoing homeless encampment on the little hill/overlook--I've seen a lot of signs of homeless encampments there, ie. bedrolls, graffiti, discarded clothes and the like. So I think there's a good chance the animal belonged to one of them, though it's strange they would just let the body lie there. You wonder what happened to the owner. Maybe he or she is dead too? Semi-serious here, but it wouldn't be the first time a homeless person has died or disappeared in this area.

Strange sad story. Whatever the truth, it's a good post in which to remind people, especially solitary hikers, that this trail has an urban trailhead, and there are not infrequently homeless people on the lower portions of Skyline. I have met many very odd and sketchy people (no, not talking about any of us on the board!). If you are on the trail very early in the morning, an encounter with a homeless camper is quite possible (one time I actually woke up a homeless guy sleeping on the trail, and this was at 4000 feet. Another time, I encountered a totally naked man sitting on a rock at 4 am just a few hundred feet above the Desert Museum.) Most are peculiar but harmless (both guys I ran into just mumbled something and obviously wanted to be left alone), but a few are not harmless, so be cautious when alone. For a while there was a somewhat deranged guy who busied himself with 'trail clearing' with a machete (yep, I ran into him too.), there was some creepy dude who set up rock boobytraps by the trails, and I've found drug paraphernalia and some stuff that was freaky and lurid (use your imagination here folks )

If this trail could talk ....

[Wildhorse]

We don't know what happened to the dog. It could have been abandoned on the trail by a person with or without a home.

I have read that homeless animals greatly outnumber homeless people. Animal cruelty abounds. I remember a drunken dog beater camped at the base of Lykken some years ago. The man was lying on the ground sleeping, surrounded by empty beer bottles. When I approached that area on the trail, his dog began to bark. The drunk woke up and beat the dog. I imagined that the dog's barking was a cry for help.

An article in the New York Times about summer rescues of people on a urban mountain trail in the San Jose area also noted that five dogs had died there from dehydration this year. Many people have been rescued. None have died. Five dogs have died.

I see dogs deprived of water often on the trail that I hike daily. Humanity's cruelty to dogs makes a dreadful statement about what we are.

When I read about the dog who died on Skyline, it was these images and thoughts that came to my mind.

[cynthia23]

It's so startling to hear that five dogs died of dehyration on that trail alone, Wildhorse. It brings home that dogs really don't belong on longer or more strenuous hikes. People have idealized or romantic notions of 'taking dogs on hikes' which aren't realistic or in tune with the abilities of our domesticized animals. And you're right, it's a sad example of animal cruelty and our overall indifference.

[zippetydude]

This is a sad situation because anyone who loves their dog enough to want to take it out on adventures would probably want to take good care of the dog while they're out there. Not recognizing the dog's need is a real travesty, as it is most likely unintentional neglect that ends with horrible consequences. And it doesn't have to go that way.

I take my daughter's Italian Greyhound with me on 10-12 mile runs, and she loves it. She probably runs 25 miles zooming back and forth, deliriously happy, so excited to be allowed to run freely like a dog is made for...and she is offered water every time I take a drink, and I make sure she is not overheating as well. I have a Pekingese who loves to go for walks, but she is good for maybe a mile, then sits down, which is her cue to me that it's time to carry her. I even have a basket that I can attach to my mountain bike, and she loves to ride along with me. Yes, it looks ridiculous - a rather scruffy looking mountain biker grinding along up a hill with a little fluffy dog riding in a basket, but it is what it is. In any case, dogs are great companions and it saddens me to see any of them suffering. Incidentally, here's a really pitiful little fella that ended up rescued and doing well:

http://www.sunnyskyz.com/happy-videos/2 ... e-To-Tears

Is that not the most lovable dog in the world? I'd adopt that little guy in a heartbeat!

z

[Wildhorse]

Z-

That is indeed the most lovable dog I can imagine. Your dog and your daughters dog also sound lovable and I can tell that they are getting that love and good care.

I wish they all did.

Cynthia-

Startling is exactly the feeling I had when I read the article. My heart and breath paused noticeably.