Overweight Dog Overheats on Camelback Mountain; Be Careful While Hiking With Pets

We came upon this scene of doggie drama while hiking Camelback Mountain Sunday morning about 9 a.m. The woman in the white hat had dragged her fat golden retriever nearly to the top of the mountain, where it overheated and wanted to go no farther. A group of concerned citizens splashed the animal's fur with water. One burly guy offered to carry the 85-pound dog down the steep, rocky trail, but then apparently decided better of it.

A little while later, on our way down, we saw the woman and her dog had descended a few hundred feet and were taking another rest break. We imagine that she eventually coaxed the poor mutt off the mountain, though it probably took a few hours.

Hikers need to beware of summer heat, obviously, but at least they have a choice of which trail to climb and how far to go. It's important to bring extra water for your pooch, too.