Putnam County, New York — Firefighters coordinated the rescue of a dog who fell down a steep slope and became trapped on a small rock just inches from the gushing Quaker Brook waterfall in Paterson, New York.
On Sunday morning, the Paterson Fire Department learned of the trapped dog, Rudy, who had fallen 15 feet down the slick crevasse, narrowly avoiding the roaring falls.
With water flows reaching seasonal highs, 14-month-old Rudy was in a very precarious situation.
Aware of the poor conditions and the long icy journey that lay ahead, Patterson rescuers arrived at the park by utility vehicle (UTV).
Putnam County Technical Rescue assisted with their UTVs, bringing specialized rope rescue equipment.
Putnam Lake FD and Brewster FD also assisted in the rescue mission.

Several firefighters walked downstream, preparing for the possibility of Rudy falling into the water and being swept away.
Captain Greco of the Paterson Fire Department was carefully lowered down the cliff on a rope.
After more than two hours of being stuck on a small, cold, wet ledge, Rudy eagerly jumped into Captain Greco’s arms.

The two were led back over the cliff to safety, and it couldn’t have been any worse for the ordeal.
Rudy was miraculously unharmed.

Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All rights reserved.