Deputies: Rescue dog stayed in ravine with missing woman until found

CABARRUS COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - Rescuers in Cabarrus County say they found a missing woman lying in a ravine Wednesday morning with a dog that had apparently remained at her side through the entire ordeal.

Dorothy Schnabel, an Alzheimer's patient, was located lying in the water in a ravine not far from her home and taken to the hospital, according to the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office.

With her was her faithful dog Duchess, a brown Doberman who was herself, a rescued dog. Apparently Duchess stayed by her all night.



Deputies from the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office, the Sheriff's Office Special Vehicle Response Team (SVT), the Fire Marshal's Office, the Cabarrus County Land Search team consisting of members from the following fire departments: Allen, Mt. Mitchell, Northeast, Mt. Pleasant and Harrisburg were all part of the effort.

One major contributor to the success of the search was the North Carolina Highway Patrol's helicopter, the Sheriff's Office said. There is no way to determine how much longer this search could have continued and what the outcome would have been for Mrs. Schnabel if not for their assistance.