Police save French bulldog from New Jersey cliffs in dramatic rescue

FORT LEE, N.J. (PIX11) — A major rock rescue unfolded Wednesday on the Palisades Cliffside for a 35-pound French bulldog.

The wayward pup named Klipse took off while on an early morning walk in Fort Lee and wound up 300 feet above the Hudson River.

“It’s my first and only pet; we clicked the first day,” Sergey Koltenyuk, the dog’s owner, said.

Koltenyuk is now keeping Klipse on a short leash after the Frenchie had to be rescued off the Palisades Cliffside. Koltenyuk’s brother was dog-sitting Monday when the 13-month-old pup made a run for it.

“He peed, looked at my brother, and moved his head and set himself free,” Koltenyuk said. “He didn’t run to explore; he ran to look for me.”

Klipse dodged traffic, weaved in and out, and ran for about 2 miles before he was spotted an hour later up by the cliff’s edge.

“I tried to catch him; he ran away, but he jumped off the cliff area,” said Bridgette Lombardi, who called in the canine rescue.

The Port Authority Police Department rushed in.

“It was unbelievable. One guy just ran straight down; he ran straight in. That’s a big cliff,” Lombardi remarked.

Emergency Service Unit cops Stephen Nicola and Rob Kuchie suited up and rappelled about 20 feet down the cliff’s edge.

“We figured out we needed a rope system because you can climb down, but if you fall, it’s a long way down,” Officer Nicola said.

They found Klipse on a perilous perch.

“It had to be close to 100 yards of rocks, trees, brush,” Officer Kuchie said. “Had he fallen, it would be a tumble and potentially end up in the Hudson River.”

Their partners above helped hoist the officers with the Frenchie in tow. They recall plenty of PAPD human and wild animal rescues, but Klipse could be the first dog.

“There’s nothing like getting a companion back,” Officer Nicola said.

A companion, and so much more.

“He didn’t just fill voids; he basically gave me a new life,” Koltenyuk said, thanking the PAPD and Lombardi for helping save his “third son.”

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