“She just seemed to know that everyone was there to help.”

When Sandy Harris arrived at South Carolina’s Jones Gap State Park in July, she expected to spend her day hiking to waterfalls and basking in nature. She didn’t expect to save a dog’s life.

After almost turning back in the 90-degree heat, something pulled at Harris to go a bit further up the trail. Coming around a curve, she spotted a beautiful German shepherd laying in the brush.

The dog didn’t make a sound as Harris cautiously approached. That’s when she noticed a wound on the dog’s leg.

A sickening realization gripped her — the dog couldn’t walk, and this part of the trail had no cell service. Harris couldn’t carry a 75-pound dog 2 miles back to the trailhead, and it was getting dark.

The exhausted German shepherd looked at her with big, brown eyes. Harris gave the dog some food and water and promised to come back in the morning.

Then she started making her way back down the steep, rocky trail.

Harris posted online to see if anyone was missing a German shepherd. Through social media, she connected with Luci Daley, a volunteer dog tracker, and Marcy Dimmick and Holly Jones of Labor of Love Transport Rescue, a foster-based rescue organization.

The next morning, the four women trekked up the trail with a stretcher, pain medication and food, hoping the dog was still alive, waiting for them.

The dog, whom they later learned is named Koco, was alive — but the women found her sooner than they expected.

The team came upon Kyle Morgan and Dillon Tatum, two hikers, sitting with fluffy Koco. The men had come across her and refused to leave her alone. They took turns carrying Koco down the mountain.

Koco’s rescue team carefully splinted her leg and gave her pain medication. Jones, president of Labor of Love, told The Dodo that the dog must have been in “excruciating pain,” based on the state of her leg. “I don’t know how much longer she would have even lasted,” Jones added. “I mean, she was spent.”

Despite her discomfort, Koco was a trooper. She patiently allowed the team to maneuver her onto the stretcher. Finally feeling safe, she drank some water and calmly looked ahead.

“Everybody described her as very calm, very grateful,” Jones said. “She just seemed to know that everyone was there to help.”

The 2-mile hike out of the park challenged the team with rocks, roots and a steep decline. But everyone’s priority was Koco.

In the end, it took almost three hours to carry the dog to Jones’ car and another hour to drive to the hospital. The whole way, Koco hardly made a sound and seemed relieved to be out of the elements.

X-rays showed Koco’s leg bones were shattered. Vets performed surgery later that week, and the brave dog is expected to make a full recovery.

Through all the pain, heat and bumps in the road, Koco’s sweet, calm demeanor never wavered. Jones said Koco did have a collar on (which is how they knew her name was Koco), but she didn’t have a microchip and no one ever came forward to claim her.

For the next few weeks, Koco is healing with a foster mom, who showers her with affection. At first, Koco was reserved, eating in her crate and moving through her day without much fuss. But as time goes on, her personality shines through.

“She’s becoming more affectionate … and becoming a little bit playful,” her foster told Jones. “She doesn’t bark, complain, whine — nothing. She loves peanut butter, treats … rolling around on the floor [and] belly rubs.”

Whatever her past, Koco is bravely moving forward, leaving loneliness and treacherous hiking trails behind.