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RNLI rescues spaniel stuck in cove
Pictured: Woody at Port Isaac RNLI boathouse, safe after his dramatic rescue.

Woody fell off a cliff, and had been missing for three days. 

A sprocker spaniel has been rescued by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), after falling  off a cliff in north Cornwall and going missing for three days.

Woody, a nine-month-old sprocker spaniel, was out on a coastal walk with his owners when he disappeared from their view. After searching for more then 24 hours, Woody's owners were incredibly distressed, unsure if they would ever see him again. 

Jon, Woody's owner, said: “We felt sick to the stomach going back without Woody. Then we had a phone call telling us that a dog had been heard barking down a cliff.

“Words can’t express how delighted and overjoyed we were.”

After falling 150ft down the cliff, and having been missing for three days, Woody was eventually discovered when a walker heard him barking. A farmer local to the area kindly used a drone to locate Woody, and found him inside a steep-sided cove.

The farmer notified the RNLI, and Port Isaac's RNLI volunteer crew navigated their D class inshore lifeboat through a large swell to rescue Woody. 

RNLI crew member Ben Spicer commented on the rescue: “Woody gave us a good run around to start off with as he was understandably distressed, cold, tired and hungry.

“It felt fantastic to get Woody out of there and back to his owners. I can only imagine how horrid it must have felt not knowing his circumstances over those days

“It was a great team effort with multiple organisations involved, Cornwall Search Dogs, DogLost Cornwall, Boscastle CG and the RNLI all working harmoniously and achieving a positive outcome. It could have very easily gone the other way for Woody.” 

Jon thanked the crew who saved Woody: “The whole thing is a miracle: it’s amazing that he survived the fall, the couple of nights alone and that he was rescued. How on earth?

“We can’t thank the RNLI crew enough. We’ve always donated to the RNLI. I’ve been a Shoreline member for years and when my wife’s father died, we donated as well, never knowing that we would need them to rescue our dog.”

Image (C) RNLI.

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Animal Medicines Amnesty returns this November

News Story 1
 Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty.

Organised by the Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA CA&E), the initative is supported by a range of cross-sector organisations.

Practices are encouraged to use the campaign to engage the whole practice team and raise awareness of the safe disposal of medicines with clients. Learn how your practice can get involved at rumacae.org.uk 

Click here for more...
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APHA launches free virtual work experience programme

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), in collaboration with Springpod, has launched a free virtual work experience programme, giving young people across the UK the chance to explore careers dedicated to protecting animal and plant health.

The on-demand programme offers a unique insight into career opportunities within APHA, showcasing how students can contribute to tackling some of the UK's most critical biosecurity and environmental challenges.

Designed for students aged 13 and over, the course includes more than 10 hours of engaging content featuring real-life industry insights, scenario-based challenges, and practical guidance on applying for jobs. To register for the course, visit the APHA website.