I live in Colorado — a state with beautiful outdoor spaces and plenty of hiking trails and backcountry skiing opportunities.

My dog, Molly, loves going on adventures with me and especially likes the snow. When she sees me putting on my outdoor gear, she begins excitedly running around the house until it is time to go.

Molly is a wonderful hiking and exploring companion, and I feel safer traveling in a pack, but sometimes she has to stay home.

If I’m hiking on a hot day, my black, long-haired pup will be uncomfortable, and I don’t want to risk her health. Some winter activities are not suitable for my dog. It is hard to leave Molly behind when she is begging to go, but it’s the right decision.

Not all dog parents who explore and play in Colorado choose to keep their canines home.

Two weeks ago, the local news was buzzing about a dog found alive days after being lost in an avalanche near Monarch Pass in Colorado.

A snowboarder, skier, and their dog were backcountry skiing when they were caught in a snow slide. The skier was able to deploy his avalanche airbag system, keeping him on the surface of the snow. When he stopped sliding, he located the female snowboarder and dug her out.

Together, the couple searched for their dog for several hours but could not locate the pet. I can only imagine how heartbreaking it was for them to leave the area without their beloved dog.

A search and rescue team looked for the missing canine the following day, but they found no tracks or other evidence to suggest the dog had survived the avalanche.

Two days later, the dog was found, alive, approximately a mile and a half from the slide site near a trailhead. Some hikers found the scared and cold dog, contacted the owners, and he was reunited with his family.

I’m thrilled by the end of this story but find myself questioning the couple’s decision to bring their dog on that backcountry excursion in the first place.

This story is the second time this winter that a dog made the news in Colorado after surviving an avalanche. In December, a canine accompanying its owner on a backcountry ski trip accidentally triggered an avalanche and was buried for twenty minutes before being found.

It was a miracle that a person in the search party noticed the tip of the dog’s nose poking out of the snow. The emotional rescue was captured on video, and you can read the full story here.

Unfortunately, some dogs have not been so lucky this year. Three snowshoers and three dogs have died in two Colorado avalanches in the last few months.

Backcountry snow sports are high-risk activities, and participating individuals must always prepare for avalanches. Carrying appropriate safety equipment is a must, but how do we best protect our dog?

Hiking

Dogs are also at risk in the summer. Last year, there were a record number of dog-related rescue calls in Colorado after owners took their pets on long hikes through challenging terrain in the heat of the day.

A dog will follow you until they can’t go a step more, and many of these canines suffered exhaustion, dehydration, and torn paw pads. They didn’t have the stamina for the climb and needed more access to water and shade.

It’s heartbreaking to see a dog being air-lifted off a trail or carried down on a litter. The pup is obviously suffering — a situation that could have been avoided if the owner had left their dog home.

Final Thoughts

I love my dog and enjoy exercising with her, but sometimes she needs to stay home. Since Molly can’t make this decision for herself, it is up to me to know her limits.

I’m responsible for her safety, and I take that seriously.

What are your thoughts about the increase in dog-related rescues?

Jill is a psychologist turned writer. Subscribe here to get her articles straight to your inbox.