A peaceful day on the island of Alderney in the English Channel turned into a high-stakes mission when the Alderney Fire Brigade (AFB) received a distressing call: a family had lost sight of their dog near the rugged cliffs of Telegraph Bay — and feared the worst.
Their fears were confirmed when they spotted the pup more than 30 feet below the edge, stranded on a dangerous slope with no way to climb back up.
Though she appeared uninjured, the terrain was loose and steep, and her footing looked increasingly unstable.
Without hesitation, AFB deployed a rescue team.
Two firefighters stayed at the cliff’s edge to reassure the family, while another pair rappelled down toward the frightened dog.
As the rescuers carefully descended, the pup spotted them and lit up — tail wagging, ears perked — a mix of fear and hope in her eyes.
“She was clearly happy to see us but also extremely distressed,” said lead rescuer James Vizard. “It was a delicate situation. The ground was unstable, and we didn’t want her to bolt toward us before we were ready.”
The team worked quickly and carefully. First, they secured her with a piece of webbing to ensure she wouldn’t fall further.
Then, they fitted her with a specialized dog rescue harness designed to carry animals safely during technical extractions.
With the dog safely strapped to one rescuer, the crew above began to hoist them back to solid ground.
When they finally reached the top, cheers of relief broke out. Despite the dramatic fall, the pup was miraculously unscathed.
“The dog had no visible injuries and was safely returned to her family after a much-needed drink and some well-earned cuddles,” AFB reported.
Overwhelmed with emotion, the dog leapt into her family’s arms, licking their faces as they hugged her tightly — finally reunited after a terrifying hour of uncertainty.
The AFB team was thrilled with the successful outcome and grateful the pup made it out safely. But they hope the incident serves as a reminder to others.
“We always recommend keeping dogs on leashes when walking near cliff paths,” Vizard advised.
The lucky dog hasn’t been seen by rescuers since, but they’re certain she’s off enjoying new, safer adventures — this time, right by her humans’ side.
And thanks to a quick-thinking team and a perfectly executed rescue, another happy tail got to wag another day.
