Due to their hard-working and high-energy personalities, Alaskan Malamutes are perfect buddies for outdoor adventures. In fact, they have incredible strength to carry heavy loads during hiking or mountain climbing. Aside from these, these hardworking canines are also affectionate entertainers.
The Alaskan Malamutes are gentle and friendly with people despite their intimidating size. They consider every person they meet as friends, which makes them unfit for guard dog duties. But despite being terrible watchdogs, they are tremendously loyal and dedicated to their masters.
One great proof of this is North, an eight-month-old Alaskan Malamute, who rescued his injured owner in the high-snowy Croatian mountains. Grga Brkic, a mountaineer, fell while hiking the highest peak of Velebit Mountain Range last January 1, 2022. He sustained leg injuries, so he couldn’t move.
On the other hand, the other two hikers on the trail sounded the alarm when they could not reach North and Brkic. Since the team was on extremely inaccessible terrain, it took 13 hours and a team of 27 responders to get to the pair.
When the hikers arrived at the location, they found the dog uninjured and curled around Brkic. The warm body of the Alaskan Malamute protected him against extreme hypothermia the entire time. Even with the arrival of the rescuer and Brkic’s transfer via helicopter, the dog refused to detach from his owner.
The Croatian Mountain Service, a team of volunteers for search and rescue in Croatia, shared the boundless friendship between Brkic and the Alaskan Malamute in a Facebook post. It includes a photo of the dog lying on top of the hiker on a stretcher. It’s a heartwarming scene that proved the dog’s immense love and loyalty to his master.
However, the search and rescue agency issued a warning about taking dogs on hikes, especially in harsh winter conditions. Although North remained unhurt in the incident, such a challenging hike is not safe for dogs. The agency advises dog owners to prioritize safety by not taking pets during extreme conditions and bringing appropriate safety equipment as they go.
Source: HGSS – Hrvatska Gorska Služba Spašavanja via Facebook