Labrador rescued from Ben Nevis after cannabis scare
Tokyo, a 5-year-old black Labrador, was carried off Scotland’s highest mountain after becoming ill during a family hike.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
A family hike on Ben Nevis turned into a mountain rescue after Tokyo, a 5-year-old black Labrador, became weak and faded in and out of consciousness near the summit, her owner told CNN.
Christina Bluhme said the 53-pound dog was with the family on Scotland’s tallest mountain when her back legs began to fail about an hour from the top. Bluhme told CNN she first feared the climb might have caused a spinal injury or slipped disc.
The situation worsened as Tokyo struggled to stay alert. Bluhme said she feared she might lose the dog while standing on the mountain.
The family tried to get Tokyo down themselves, according to UPI, but heavy rain made the descent difficult. They called the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, which had volunteers close by after responding to another emergency.
The rescue team carried Tokyo down the mountain on a stretcher, according to a Facebook post from Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team. Bluhme then took her to Crown Vets in Fort William.
At the veterinary clinic, staff connected Tokyo’s symptoms to cannabis exposure, Bluhme told CNN. She said the dog also had a blood test, and that a strong cannabis smell became noticeable when Tokyo passed gas while having her temperature taken.
Bluhme told CNN the moment was frightening, though the odd detail made it hard not to see a little humor once Tokyo was safe.
Veterinarians said Tokyo most likely ate a cannabis edible that had been left on the trail, or human waste from someone who had used marijuana, according to UPI. No person was identified in connection with the suspected cannabis exposure.
Tokyo was well enough to go home the next day, her owner said. Bluhme told CNN the Labrador was wagging her tail and ready to leave the clinic, and by the following day appeared as if the ordeal had not happened.
The Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team shared the rescue on social media, where the case drew attention for its unusual cause and for the image of a large Labrador being carried down the mountain like any other injured hiker.
Ben Nevis, near Fort William, is the highest mountain in Scotland. The rescue happened during a family walk close to the peak, according to Bluhme’s account to CNN.
This story draws on original reporting from UPI.