A playful day at San Francisco's Fort Funston took a terrifying turn for a pet dog on Tuesday. The park's beautiful oceanside bluffs can drop up to 200 feet to the beach below. The dog, which was not familiar with the area, was playing with another canine when it slipped on some vegetation. [cite_start]After losing its traction, the dog fell over the cliff.

For more than 20 agonizing minutes, the dog clung to a narrow ledge, trapped.

The call for help came in at 11:39 AM. The San Francisco Fire Department dispatched Engine 19, Truck 19, and Battalion 8 to 500 Skyline. Arriving at Fort Funston, the crews from Station 19 began setting up a rigging operation for what was downgraded to a "low angle rescue".

The rescue operation required a "big team effort", and the crew received a crucial assist. A San Francisco police drone operator who happened to be in the area heard the emergency call. The operator used a drone to capture an aerial view of the dog's exact location, relaying the information to the firefighters on the scene. The dog was spotted on a ledge about 40 feet below the top of the cliff.

With the dog's location confirmed, one rescuer rappelled down the sandy cliff face. The firefighter put a harness on the 40-pound dog. Holding the canine, the two were pulled up the "mountain" together. Awaiting crews noted that "The dog is not in distress" and was having "no problem getting up".

The dog was "safely pulled up and reunited with its owner". Officials confirmed there were "no injuries to the dog" and "no injury to our personnel".

The moment the dog was safe, its relief and gratitude were unmistakable. "He was happy. He knew he got rescued. He was wagging his tail. He was giving everyone kisses," said Rescue Captain Samuel Menchaca.

While this rescue had a happy ending, Captain Menchaca noted that firefighters “unfortunately have to rescue people a lot in this area”. He urged people to stay on marked paths and keep their dogs on leashes. "You may think that it's a little berm or a hill, but it is a significant drop," he warned.

The successful operation was a testament to the crews' readiness and mission: "San Francisco Fire Department is here to serve you at every moment."

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