A dog trapped near the Great Smoky Mountains is rescued after 16 days.

Ranger Rick Brown spent hours rigging up ropes to lift the 2 1/2-year-old dog out of the hole.

"The dog was emaciated and had some bruising, but was able to walk around... Aside from being emaciated, exhausted and sore, the dog appeared to be in pretty good shape."

Hikers reported hearing a dog barking earlier in the week. A builder working on a nearby house was able to get close enough to the edge to see the dog about 40 feet down, but couldn't reach him. The ranger's office was finally able to get down into the hole to lift him out.

The lucky dog 'Buck' has been returned to his owner.