Coastguards pluck pooch from rocks near Portknockie
DOG owners are being urged to keep their pet on a lead while walking near cliffs.
The appeal comes after Coastguard teams were called out at the weekend to pluck a dog to safety after he fell off the cliffs near the Bow Fiddle rock at Portknockie.
Buckie Coastguard rescue team were joined by colleagues from Portsoy and Banff responded to a 999 call just after 10am yesterday (Sunday).
The dog, Mutley, had plunged almost 15 metres off the edge of the cliff and landed in the water below before managing to scramble onto the rocks.
After locating Mutley the Coastguard teams set up a technical rope rescue system to lower a rope rescue technician to the bottom of the cliff, where Mutley was assessed. He was then loaded into an animal rescue bag and lifted up to the cliff top.
Luckily for him, Mutley was found to have suffered no injuries.
A Coastguard spokesman said: "Please keep all dogs on leads in and around cliffs, even well trained and obedient dogs can get into difficulties, often chasing smaller animals or scents, which unfortunately leads them to cliff edges from time to time.
"If your pet does get into difficulties, do not endanger yourself to rescue them.
"Mutley's owners did exactly the right thing – they dialled 999 and asked for the Coastguard straight away."
Keep up to date with Moray's Coastguard teams on their Facebook page.