Family rescues hound from remote Idaho cave

BOISE – An Idaho family’s excursion to Payette National Forest turned into a rescue mission when they heard a puppy’s whine coming from underground.

The Idaho Statesman that brothers Dan Friend of Eagle and Bret Friend, of Boise, were preparing to enter a little-known, unmarked cave with relatives when they heard Tinker, a young redtick hound.

The brothers helped family members hoist Tinker to the surface in a duffel bag. The puppy disappeared July 16 while being trained to hunt bears.

Dan Friend says Tinker was wearing a tracking collar but the trainer lost the signal. Tinker has been reunited with her owner in Montana.

The hound survived about 20 feet underground without food or water for two weeks. Friend says condensation on the cave walls likely kept Tinker alive.