Dog stuck in mud flats, RNLI issues advice to pet owners

The RNLI rescued three dogs in one week in October and is asking the public to keep themselves safe by keeping dogs on leads if close to cliff edges or fast-flowing water and to not go after your pet if it gets stuck in mud.

The most recent rescue was at West Kirby beach, Merseyside on Sunday 24 October. A concerned member of the public contacted HM Coastguard having spotted a distressed owner and friend attempting to retrieve a cockapoo.

West Kirby RNLI volunteer crew were tasked at 5.06pm and quickly launched onto West Kirby beach. The member of the public had also advised the casualties, who had come ashore not to return to the beach due to the potentially treacherous muddy conditions.

The casualties informed the volunteer crew that the dog was a skittish rescue dog and afraid of men but fortunately one of the newest volunteer crew members, Ella Marston, is a very experienced dog handler.

When she saw the cockapoo, Ella dismounted from the boat and launch vehicle and carefully walked towards the dog. She was able to reassure the animal and transferred it onboard West Kirby RNLI Lifeboat. The crew then returned to shore at Sandy Lane slipway to reunite the dog with its owners.

The casualties and dog were transferred into the care of the awaiting local HM Coastguard team.

Gary Price, West Kirby RNLI Lifeboat Deputy Launch Authority says: “We would like to thank the member of the public who acted quickly in contacting the Coastguard and advising the casualties in the most sensible way.

“It is very easy to become trapped in mud, which can become even more dangerous when you factor in tide. In this instance the owners did the right thing by returning to shore to seek support. Please do call 999 and ask for the Coastguard should you suspect that anyone is in difficulty near to or on the water.”

On 20 October the RNLI was called out to another dog rescue along with a casualty who had entered the water to try to save the animal. RNLI Kessock’s charity lifeboat was requested by UK Coastguard to immediately launch prompting all available volunteer crew to race to the station to the aid of three people in the water off Chanonry Point.

The group had reportedly entered the Moray Firth to assist a dog in difficulty in the strong tidal currents associated with the location. The Atlantic 85 Robert and Isobel Mowat arrived on the scene in unfavourable conditions, with wind over tide, where it was ascertained that two of the three members of the public had made it safely to shore, with one unaccounted for.

The RNLI Kessock Helm initiated a search pattern from the last known location of the casualty and a Mayday alert was released from UK Coastguard for all vessels in the vicinity to attend.

A local military vessel found the casualty and he was rescued on board and transferred to hospital. The dog made its own way to shore where it was checked over but had no reports of injuries.

On Thursday 21 October, the Plymouth all-weather lifeboat Sybil Mullen Glover launched, following reports that a dog had fallen off the cliff and into the area of Cawsand Bay.

Volunteer crew joined Plymouth Coastguard and Looe Coastguard rescue teams after 7pm in the search for the missing dog but light was fading.

The Y-Class lifeboat was launched to conduct a shoreline search and the dog was located 30ft up the cliff.

A coastguard cliff rescue team member was sent down to recover the animal and the dog was reunited with her owner, safe and well.

Dog rescues are relatively common in the UK. Over the last few years, over 400 dogs have been rescued by the RNLI*, with 206 rescued in 2018. Last year saw just 57 callouts but this could be due to the lockdown restrictions.

*The above figures are for callouts specifically to dogs in trouble, not walkers who happen to have a dog with them.

The RNLI urges owners to keep themselves safe by:

• Keep dogs on a lead if you’re close to cliff edges or fast flowing rivers.
• If your pet goes into the water or gets stuck in mud, don’t go after them. Move to a safe place and call your pet – they will probably get themselves out.
• If you’re worried about your dog call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard
• Be wary of all edges around the sea and waterside. Slips and falls happen in all locations; it is not just high cliff edges that are a risk.
• Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back.
• Always take a means of calling for help.