A 120-to-130-pound dog named Atlas had to be rescued after becoming too exhausted to complete a difficult mountain hike in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

Deputies with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office Open Space team hiked up to help. Because of the rough terrain, rescuers took turns carrying Atlas before securing him in a Stokes basket for the journey down.

The roughly four-mile rescue took nearly five hours, but Atlas made it back safely. Deputies reminded hikers to carry plenty of water for pets, watch for signs of exhaustion, and remember that the return trip can be just as challenging as the climb up.

koat.com