SANDPOINT - Tehya, a small, 10-year-old Husky, could have faced a miserable weekend trapped in a rocky crevice if not for some timely assistance from a local couple.

When Chris and Sandy Bessler began hearing cries near their home on Baldy Mountain Road last week, they chalked the noise up to coyotes they often hear near their home. However, the sounds persisted, and Sandy grew suspicious that there was more to the situation.

"Something just told me it was a different situation," she said. "They went on all night long."

On Friday, the Besslers went out to investigate the situation more thoroughly. They followed the cries to a large boulder near their home. When they looked more closely, they noticed a little, furry head peaking out from over the top.

A small Husky was trapped in a deep crevice split into the surface of the rock. Based on the level of snow atop the boulder, the Besslers surmised that the poor pooch may have stepped onto a snowy surface covering the crack and fallen through. No matter how she managed to get herself stuck, her whimpers in response to her predicament were truly pitiful.

"It was absolutely unlike anything I've heard before," Bessler said. "You usually don't see or hear a dog in distress like that."

At first, Tehya was too terrified to respond to the Besslers' calls, her bright blue eyes wide and fearful. Eventually, however, she warmed up to their rescue attempts.

"After a while, I could tell she knew we were there to help," Bessler said.

After coaxing her into a standing position against the rock, Chris was able to just barely reach her and lift her out. Now they just had to decide what to do with her. The dog was incredibly jittery and nervous after her ordeal, but managed to settle down enough to eat a little food and drink a little water.

Sandy decided to call Panhandle Animal Shelter for further assistance. Fortunately, shelter associate Mary Levy was able to help the Besslers almost immediately.

"We had already received a lost report for the dog," Levy said. "I was able to connect the two cases right away."

According to Levy, it turned out that Tehya was owned by Sandpoint resident Matt Weldon. Levy said the owner was overjoyed to have his beloved pet back, having raised her from a pup.

For Sandy, the situation is an excellent example of the effective framework animal shelters can provide when dealing with lost pets. By gaining Panhandle Animal Shelter's assistance in corroborating the reports, the Besslers were able to return Tehya to her home much more quickly.

"If you lose a dog, call the animal shelter," Bessler said. "If you find a dog, call the animal shelter."