Lucky dog rescued by kayaker after cliff fall

08 September 2023 , 09:55

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The RNLI helped reunite Floyd with his owner after a Kayaker pulled him to safety

Cavapoo Floyd had a lucky escape when he was rescued by a kayaker after falling from a cliff.

Floyd was out for a walk with his owner when he took a tumble over the edge of the rocks above Box Bay near Stackpole, Pembrokeshire.

Fortunately, a passing kayaker spotted the pooch and pulled him to safety before handing him over to an RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew, who had been alerted when the owner called 999.

Crew member Rob Garland, 45, said: "Our main concern was the dog but also the owner out of the fear that they might scale down the cliff to save him.

“We always launch to dogs in distress to reunite them with their owners, but also to make sure their humans don’t get themselves into trouble too.

"It is one of those incidents you never expect to happen, but we always remind people to use leads when walking along the cliffs.

“The RNLI never blames the owner in situations like this, and the most important thing is that Floyd is alive and well."

Floyd isn’t the first dog to have a narrow escape this year. In June, a dog named Button fell off a 150ft cliff in Bridlington, East Yorks, miraculously escaping with no major injuries.

A terrier named Rebel fell from a cliff in Dorset in August. The pooch was spotted around an hour later and reunited with its owners.

A spokesperson for the RNLI advised dog walkers to keep their animals on leads when close to cliff edges or fast-flowing rivers.

The team also said if a dog goes into the water or gets stuck in mud, owners should not go in after them and move instead to a place the dog can reach safely and call them from there.
If you’re worried about your dog, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Webbox Pet Pic

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And we all want to see your favourite snaps of your animal pals, so please send them in – the cuter the better. We’ll share as many as we can on this page, and in our brilliant newsletter too.

This week, meet Colin the cat, who appeared one day in Barbara Berry’s garden in Mansfield Woodhouse, and soon became a regular visitor.

Colin the Cat

Barbara says: “He was always very friendly and we looked forward to seeing him. He came one day limping badly, and our wonderful Mansfield Cat Rescue took him in, had him treated and neutered and returned him to us after we covered his vet costs.

“He loves everyone and regularly visits the neighbours. He is such a lovely boy. I have no idea where he came from, but I am glad that he chose us to live with.”

Send your snaps to [email protected] or tag our socials. Make sure to tell us a bit about your pet and what makes them special to you. We can’t wait to see them!

Missing cat reunited with family after a trip to McDonald's

A lost cat got more than a Filet-o-Fish when he visited his local McDonald’s – instead, he found kind-hearted restaurant workers able to reunite him with his owner.

All-black Harry went missing in May from his home in Gosport, Hampshire, three miles away from the fast-food outlet on Newgate Lane.

Rich and his colleagues eventually gained Harry's trust

Luckily cat-loving worker Rich Allen, 32, noticed the forlorn moggie searching for food and contacted Cats Protection. They issued an online appeal to find Harry’s owner, but the eight-year-old cat was too timid and wary to approach and check for a microchip.

Eventually, after three months of gentle coaxing, Rich and his colleagues gained Harry’s trust.

Kate Stapleford from Cats Protection said: “We had no response to our adverts and although we were keen to scan Harry for a microchip and fit him with a paper collar we knew it was going to take some time because Harry was so timid.

“In fact, it became a labour of love for Rich and his colleagues Jess and Shaun who were part of a group of concerned staff at the restaurant where Harry became affectionately known as ‘Rich’s cat’.

“Slowly Rich and his colleagues earned Harry’s trust, so much so that when he saw Rich outside he would make a beeline for him and settle on his lap purring contentedly.”

Harry went missing in May from his home in Gosport, Hampshire

Once Harry had become more relaxed, Rich contacted the charity again and Kate visited McDonald’s where she was able to scan Harry for his microchip and track down owner Amy Penfold, 47.

Amy said: “A neighbour mistakenly told me Harry had been run over so I never expected to see him again. Harry is now enjoying life back at home, has been purring non-stop and seems pleased to be back with his cat brothers and sisters.”

Tell us about amazing pets and their people

Nominations are now open for the Mirror People’s Pet Awards with Webbox. We’re looking for cats, dogs and every pet in between who has saved and transformed lives, rescue animals who have overcome incredible odds, and pets who win the hearts of everyone they meet.

There are also categories for people old and young who make a difference to animals’ lives. If your pet, or a pet you know, deserves an award you can find more information and nominate them at thepeoplespetawards.co.uk.

Tell us about your pets and send us your questions [email protected]

Charlotte Regen