Rescuing the rescuers: A tale of two gentle giants on the ledge
In the quiet neighborhood of Arroyo Heights, two "lions" found themselves in a very un-lion-like predicament on Thursday afternoon. Mia and Mattilda are Leonbergers, a massive German breed specifically bred to resemble the lions on the crest of the town of Leonberg, Germany. Known for their gentle temperaments and thick, double coats, these "gentle giants" usually spend their days serving as fire department therapy dogs, providing comfort to those in need.
On a recent Thursday afternoon, however, the roles were reversed. The two dogs slipped past their owner, Linda Hiemer—perhaps in a moment of excitement over a squirrel—and ended up trapped on a ledge 30 feet down a steep cliff. For two hours, eight-year-old Mia and three-year-old Mattilda waited on that precarious perch.
