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Loyal Dog Guides Injured Owner Through 11-Hour Mountain Ordeal
25 Aug
Summary
- Utah man survives 11-hour night crawl with help of his dog Buddy
- Suffered broken ankles, ribs, and leg after ATV crash in Uinta Mountains
- Buddy's persistence and companionship kept him going through the pain
On July 20, 2025, 34-year-old Jake Schmitt, an experienced hunting guide in Utah, was scouting the Uinta Mountains with his 6-year-old German shorthaired pointer, Buddy, when their ATV tumbled down a hillside. The accident left Schmitt with shattered ankles, two broken ribs, and a fractured leg.
Stranded and injured, Schmitt knew he had to get himself and Buddy to safety. Over the next 11 grueling hours, the pair crawled down a rutted logging road, with Schmitt dragging his broken body and Buddy loyally by his side. Despite the excruciating pain, Schmitt's focus remained on ensuring Buddy's survival.
As daylight broke the next morning, Schmitt's truck finally came into view, and he was able to drive himself and Buddy to the nearest diner to call for help. Schmitt spent a week in the hospital recovering, but he credits Buddy's unwavering companionship and support as the reason he made it through the ordeal alive.
Now back home in Ogden, Schmitt is determined to return to guiding by early September, despite his mounting medical bills. As for Buddy, he remains Schmitt's constant companion, a true hero who helped save his owner's life.
