Luna the Cocker Spaniel is Rescued from Cliff Edge

It’s not unusual for dogs that enjoy their off-leash walks in nature to run into problems. I mean, there’s so much to explore and sniff that tricky encounters are almost expected. But while that typically translates into prickly burrs, icky mud, tangly scrub brush, or worst-case scenario, a highly alarmed skunk, for a plucky little pooch from Dorset, that problem turned out to be a cliff. That’s because living in this gorgeous coastal town meant her daily walkies often included the stunning seaside vistas of the area’s Thorncombe Beacon.

Now, although this particular outing with her pet parent certainly started on a positive note, it went south pretty quickly when the excited Cocker Spaniel got a little too close to the edge. Yes, in front of her mom, Luna tumbled more than 160 feet down the side of cliffs leading to the choppy waters of the English Channel.

Let’s take a moment to revisit an important topic here: the importance of training your dog on the five basic commands. It’s not enough that your pet will eventually head back your way when it’s time to go home. You need to know that when you call his name, he will immediately stop and return to your side. Particularly if it appears he may be heading into danger – such as when approaching traffic, aggressive dogs, wild animals, or, in this case, a cliff with a steep drop off.

Of course, the distressed owner rushed to the spot where her pet had disappeared and was initially relieved to see she had survived. In fact, while she had fallen a serious distance, she was uninjured. Luna had landed on a wide plateau that, while helping save her from a further, more disastrous tumble, also made her rescue difficult. You see, the stranded dog wasn’t restricted to a small lip on the cliff’s edge, but a larger surface that she used to evade rescue personnel.

And boy, did rescue show up. It’s estimated there were 40 crew members from three coast guard stations and two fire stations involved in getting Luna back up the cliff. The process that began shortly after her tumble was put on hold due to the fading light and a skittish dog that refused to let the rescue workers approach her.

What to do? After more than 11 hours and multiple failures, it was decided that Luna’s mama would be lowered down the side of the cliff along with a rescue worker. Spotting a familiar face, Luna was willing to be secured and then placed in an animal rescue bag by the worker, who then winched her up the side of the cliff to safety.

So, how easy would it be to secure your pet in an emergency? A traffic accident, house fire, wilderness or open water rescue where your pooch is loose, frantic, and unwilling to come to rescuers? If they know the basic commands of “come”, “stay”, and “lay down”, you’re one step closer to keeping them safe.