Bilbo’s Cornish Career Saved!

02 Apr 09

Bilbo, a Newfoundland ‘lifeguard’ dog, had been banned from working his lifeguard beat on a Cornish beach when health-and-safety-mad officials deemed his presence on the beach was unsafe.

But now, Bilbo’s career has been rescued — and he is scheduled to return to duty on the beach this summer, after more than a thousand people signed a petition to get him back. Awoof!

Normal dogs are banned from a beach in Cornwall… But now special dispensation has been allowed for Bilbo to continue his life-saving work as a lifeguard dog.

Over 1,500 people signed a petition to get him classed as a working dog to see him back on patrol. Bilbo swims out with a rescue float to help swimmers in trouble . If he wasn’t an official working dog, Bilbo’s lifeguard and two-legged companion Steve Jamieson would be fined £75 every time Bilbo was spotted on the beach. That’s a lot of pigs’ ears!

The six-year-old dog had to pass special fitness and swimming tests before he was allowed to become Cornwall’s first beach rescue dog three years ago. His water-resistant coat and webbed paws come in very handy for the work and he’s even got his own lifeguard vest.

Click here to see a video of Bilbo in action (posted by the BBC).

SuperWoof to Bilbo! SuperWoof to those who signed his petition to rescue his career!

SuperWoof!

Archie