Dog rescued after chasing mongoose, falling 40 feet down cliff

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KAILUA-KONA — An 8-year-old dog that fell off a cliff while chasing a mongoose Monday in the Honolii area was rescued by Hawaii Fire Department personnel.

Responding to the 9:43 a.m. Monday report, rescue personnel arrived at the cliff area on the southern end of Kahoa Street in the Honolii area.

Upon arrival, personnel found an 8-year-old white pitbull/mix perched on a small outcrop about halfway down the cliff. They learned from the pup’s owner that the dog was chasing a mongoose when it went over the edge and fell 40 feet down an 80-foot cliff.

A five-man crew from the Waiakea Rescue Station responded to the special service call.

“The crew set up a lowering/raising rope system and lowered a Rescue Specialist who connected a rope to the dogs chest harness,” the department said in a media release.

The dog and rescue specialist were then raised back to the top, and the dog was reunited with its owner.