Yellowstone National Park officials said that 20-year-old Ladonna Slayton from Washington State was visiting the park with her father when her dog Rusty ran into a scalding hot spring and she jumped in after him trying to save her pet.
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Park officials said that the father and daughter were exiting their vehicle when the dog jumped out of the car and ran straight into Maiden’s Grave Spring. This specific hot spring reaches temperatures of 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ladonna jumped in the water up to her shoulders after the dog and her father stepped his feet into the water to pull her out. He then drove them all to West Yellowstone, Montana, and they were transported from there to the Burn Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
“She is stable and healing slowly and at a good rate,” her sister Kamilla wrote on Instagram. “This won’t be a fast process by any means.”
Kamilla Slayton shared photos and text messages about Ladonna’s condition. She is currently in the hospital covered in third-degree burns from her shoulders down, about 90% of her body. She is receiving temporary cadaver skin to “hopefully help her heal.”
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Rusty was rushed to the veterinarian, but unfortunately, he did not make it. The family plans to cremate the dog’s body.
The father only suffered burns to his feet about 1.5 inches up but as you can imagine, it’s very hard for him to move around with blisters there. The family has started a GoFundMe page in hopes of raising $45,000 to cover the medical cost.
“The vet bill, my sister, dads medical expenses are something that my family can’t afford right now,” the GoFundMe page says. “Not only that, but my parents have to stay out of state for a few weeks to a month depending on her recovery. They will need help with food and lodging, and cremation services for her puppy.”
Yellowstone Park officials have launched an investigation into the matter.