SuperWoof to Coast Guards

27 May 08

Poor Arnold. Out for a walk along the coast, he got caught on a slip of coastal land when the tide came in. And wouldn’t you know it? Like yours truly, Arnold, a St Bernard/Mastiff cross, has a deep, deep phobia of water.

Unwilling to dip his paws in water of any kind, even little puddles!, he had to be rescued from the incoming tide by English coastguards, who used a fishing net to get the 95 kilogram dog (that’s 15 stone if you count that way) to safety. Woof!

While walking along the cliffs near Newquay in Cornwall the huge hound spotted another dog and followed the dog down some steps to Whipsiderry Beach — just as the tide came in, cutting him off from his route back up the cliff.

“The owner told me that the dog hated water and would not even go near a puddle,” said eyewitness Terry Barnecutt, describing how Falmouth coastguards were brought in.

“The tide was coming in, and because the dog would not go up the steps the only way off the beach was by lifeboat or helicopter. The guys had to persuade the dog to get onto the fishing net they used to carry him to the lifeboat.”

A grand total of six lifeboat crewmen and coastguards were needed to haul the enormous animal to safety, said a spokesman for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Last year was the RNLI’s busiest year for animal rescues in the region: over 12 months it went to the aid of 40 dogs, five horses, four dolphins and 11 sheep.

SuperWoof to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution! Awoof! Awoof! Awoof! Bark up this news and convince the two-leggeds in your life to donate to this noble institution! Awoof!

Archibald, a fan of dog-rescuers everywhere!