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Clifford's Journey From Cliffside to Forever Home
Every now and then, an animal comes through our doors with an incredible story to share. Such is the case with Clifford, a 1-year-old mixed-breed pup whose journey to forever home is nothing short of inspiring. Clifford was spotted stranded on a cliffside in Upper Ojai in mid-November 2025. A group of dedicated community members spent over 100 volunteer hours searching for Clifford, setting up cameras, and delivering food and water. After 15 days, they finally captured him safely and brought him to our shelter. He received diligent care from our staff and, eventually, was adopted by Kyle, an animal lover who had followed his story from the very beginning!
Clifford was first reported as possibly "stuck" on a hillside by a group of hikers exploring Gridley Trail on the morning of Saturday, November 22nd. They immediately called the Ojai Fire Department, who then connected with the Upper Ojai Search and Rescue (SAR) Team for further assistance. The dog, affectionately named Clifford by his rescuers, was very wary of humans and proved difficult to catch. For over two weeks, concerned citizens and rescuers attempted to humanely trap the scared pup with no luck. The presence of bears, mountain lions, and other wildlife in the area added to the sense of urgency to bring Clifford to safety.
Several dedicated community members, including Jennifer Kusch and Stuart Griffith, endured countless sleepless nights searching for Clifford. They installed night cameras for visibility, delivered food and water, and set safe, humane traps in hopes of getting the dog to safety. They began sharing updates on social media to spread the word and raise funds for rescue efforts. Clifford's story gained traction, and soon enough, our entire community was following along, rooting for Clifford to be rescued.
Despite the coverage, Clifford continued to evade rescue attempts. A mountain lion was reportedly spotted near the area where Clifford was last seen. The rescue group knew they had to act fast to save the sweet, scared dog. In a final effort to catch Clifford before it was too late, the team worked together to carry a large live trap nearly a quarter mile up the hillside. They braved poison oak, a creek, and unstable terrain to place the trap in an area Clifford would likely head toward.
At 8:15 p.m., their live camera alerted the group to some movement. They watched as the dog cautiously approached the trap, stepped inside, and crossed the trigger plate. After 15 days on the run, Clifford was safe!
Soon after his safe capture, Clifford was brought to a group member's home for immediate protection and care. Everything he endured over the last 15 days melted away. "He leaned onto my leg, then rolled over for belly rubs. He was so happy, he even became playful with my good friend Katrina Crow," said Kusch.
After a couple of days of decompression, Clifford was transported to the Humane Society of Ventura County. With no microchip, he completed his stray hold, was neutered at our clinic, and was made available for adoption. Kyle, a previous member of the Upper Ojai SAR Team, had been following Clifford's rescue story since day one. He had lost his beloved pup a year ago, and, after hearing Clifford's story, felt it was time to open his heart again to a new furry friend. According to Jennifer, Kyle called her as soon as he heard news of his rescue. They spoke on the phone every day, and Kyle visited Clifford every day until his stray hold was completed. When it was time, Kyle jumped at the chance to claim Clifford as the newest member of his family.
Thanks to the dedicated animal-lovers in our community, what started as a cautionary tale has since become an adoption story to remember. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in Clifford's rescue journey, and thank you to Kyle for giving him a safe place to land. We can't wait to see what the next chapter is for this guy!
*Photos courtesy of Jennifer Kusch*
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