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A dog fell off the edge of a cliff above St Mary's Bay, Torbay, and tumbled down about 100 feet, though he is expected to recover from his injuries.
A press release issued by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution said that Yogi, a spaniel, fell down a cliff while he was out for a walk with his owner, Emily Linehan. Linehan immediately called for help.
The agency also shared a video showing the rescue.
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, taking a dog on a walk may require some preparation. The organization said owners should ensure that their dog is ready for any new physical activity, have voice commands ready if their dog gets too excited and use the appropriate equipment.
"To have tangible control over your dog, it is important to have a sturdy leash that is 4-6 feet long attached to a properly fitting collar or harness," the organization said. "Wrap the leash around your palm so it does not slip out of your hand."
Pet owners who allow their dogs to walk off-leash should only do so in a "controlled environment" with a dog who is well-behaved. Not all trails, VCA Animal Hospitals pointed out, allow dogs to walk around without a leash.
The video opens as crew members from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution pulled up to the shores on a boat after spotting Yogi.
The two rescuers in the video noted that Yogi appeared nervous as he tried to stay put on the ledge. After some coaxing and reassurance from the two rescuers, one crew member—Jack Hawkett—gently lifted Yogi into his arms and brought him to the boat.
They soon set off in the boat, and a crew member said that there was an injury to Yogi's head and eye. The release said that Yogi's injuries included a fractured spine, fractured ribs, nerve damage and an injured eye.
"He was rushed to a veterinary surgeon for emergency surgery but has now been released and is at home recovering," officials said.
In the video, rescuers continued to reassure Yogi as they pulled up to land where Linehan was waiting for him.
"It looks like he's going to make a full recovery and will be able to run like he could before," Linehan said in the release. "He's a very lucky boy."
In addition to sharing details about the rescue, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution also provided advice to those walking their dogs along the coast.
They recommended keeping their dogs on a leash if they are near cliff edges or rivers. If a pet owner's dog goes into water or is stuck in the mud, they should not go after them. Instead, pet owners are advised to move to a spot that the dog can easily get to before calling them.
A spokesperson for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution told Newsweek in an email that in 2021, lifeboat crews were launched to rescue 169 dogs (and sometimes their owners, too).
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution saved another dog that fell into the water while she was chasing seagulls in Wales.
Authorities rescued about 300 dogs from a property in Nevada and called it a "large-scale" animal cruelty situation.
One dog who was missing for two months was saved in a Missouri cave after a group of spelunkers found her.
About the writer
Catherine Ferris is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting for the U.S. Trends Team. She ... Read more