A Great Pyrenees is recovering safely after being discovered exhausted and partially buried in deep snow following a fierce mountain blizzard late Sunday.
Local hikers in the Twin Ridge Wilderness stumbled upon the large white dog while navigating a freshly formed snowdrift along an unmarked trail. The dog, barely visible against the snow, was found lying motionless with only its head and part of its back exposed.
“We initially thought it was just a mound of snow,” said Clara Martinez, one of the hikers who helped with the rescue. “Then we saw it breathe.”
The hikers contacted Mountain Search and Rescue, who used sled gear and warming blankets to transport the dog down the ridge. Veterinarians later confirmed the dog was hypothermic and severely fatigued but suffered no broken bones or frostbite.
Based on its paw wear and body condition, veterinarians estimate the dog had been wandering for at least 24 hours in whiteout conditions. Officials believe the Pyrenees may have been a livestock guardian dog separated from its herd during the storm.
The dog—now nicknamed “Blizzard”—is expected to make a full recovery. Local ranchers are being contacted to help identify its rightful owner. If no match is made, the rescue team says they will place the dog with a foster home familiar with working guardian breeds.
“It’s a miracle he survived,” said search leader David Holbrook. “Great Pyrenees are tough, but this storm pushed even the hardiest mountain animals to their limits.”