After recent tragic events involving dogs, RNLI Ilfracombe advises caution

And taking man’s (and woman’s!) best friend with you is a great way to give them fresh air and exercise at the same time as you.

A few call-outs to the Coastguard and lifeboats recently however, have reinforced the message that some care needs to be taken.

Here at RNLI Ilfracombe, last year we had 54 shouts – more than one a week on average – and through that rescue work we saved the lives of four people, and helped many others. Our shots are very varied and we go out to all sorts of situations – people in the water, boats in trouble, exhausted kayakers and paddleboarders, people trapped by the tide, or injured… and also dogs.

Callouts to dogs are one of our most common rescues and in the past few weeks, we have had several.

When Betty, the cockapoo puppy escaped her owners on a recent walk near Hele recently, she panicked and ran at speed towards the cliff edge. She had only been going on walks for a couple of weeks as she was a nervous rescue dog and she was still easily spooked. Her owner, Karen, watched in horror as Betty disappeared over the edge of Hillsborough.

Her fall was stopped by a small ledge around 60 metres above the cove near Fishing Rock and there Betty stayed. Karen tried to reach her but was not able to get close. She then dialled 999 and asked for the Coastguard who also tried valiantly to reach Betty from the top of the cliff. In fact, three rescue teams – from Lynmouth, Mortehoe and Croyde joined Ilfracombe Coastguard to help with the rescue. Sadly, by this time, Betty, skittish to start with, was now terrified and backed away whenever a rescuer came anywhere near her.

A few hours were spent in this effort when Betty, in her efforts to keep away from help, misjudged how big the ledge was and fell all the way down to sea level. The Coastguard then tasked the lifeboat to see if we could reach her from the sea. Our volunteers Matt, Sophie and Stuart immediately left the harbour in the inshore lifeboat and, within minutes, were on the tiny beach onto which Betty had fallen. They were able to pick her up and get her to where owner Karen was waiting anxiously on Hele Beach.

As Matt says, 'it was a great feeling to be able to hand a rescued dog back to its concerned owners'. Sadly, Betty suffered a broken leg in the fall but is recovering well.

In another successful rescue, Ronnie Barker, was rescued with his owner Tim, when their boat’s engine failed in rough water. Sadly, he was extremely cold and had to wear a jumper under his life jacket. 'He looks like he’d have you for breakfast,' owner Tim says, 'but he’s actually a real wuss'. Ronnie certainly looked pleased to be rescued!

Not all rescues are so successful, however. In the space of a few weeks, two dogs went over the cliff at Valley of Rocks, Lynton. The first dog, despite an extensive search by the Coastguard, us in the lifeboat, and other agencies, was never found. Sadly, her owners, holidaying here, had to go home without her at the end of their time away. Shortly afterwards, another dog went over the cliff and the Coastguard tasked us to help locate it. The dog was quickly found by our volunteers, but had not survived the fall.

To keep your dog safe, please always keep dogs on leads when they are near a cliff edge. Even the calmest of dogs can get spooked. And we ask anyone whose dog falls from the coast path or is in trouble in the water, not to put their own lives as risk by attempting a rescue but to call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard. We are happy to come out and look for any dog on your behalf.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.