Fearless Frank the dog tore off after a rabbit on a visit to the seaside – and ended up plummeting 100ft down a cliff face.
Thankfully, though, Frank survived, and is on the road to recovery thanks to some great teamwork.
It all happened when he was out for a walk with owner Stewart Wragg and his former partner Allison at Cayton Bay on 16 April.
Stewart, 63, said he thinks Frank got a scent of a rabbit and took off. He tumbled down a rocky outcrop onto a beach.
There was no access to the beach at that point so Stewart had to continue a long way further along the cliff edge before he could attempt to get down to search for his pet.
Fortunately Chris Gorman was walking along the beach and came across Frank who was whimpering.
He could see the pet appeared to have a broken leg and called the RSPCA before carrying Frank along the rocks to the beach as the tide was coming in.
‘I heard a whimpering noise’
Chris, 33, from Scarbrough, said: “It was lucky I was down there really as I was on the rocks looking for fishing spots and it is not normally a place where people walk.
“Then I heard a whimpering noise and could see the poor dog and that it looked like he had a broken leg. I thought he had run off from his owner and slipped on rocks – I had no idea he had fallen so far at the time.
“I reported the matter to the RSPCA and then carried him in my arms. I had to be careful on the slippery rocks as I didn’t want to fall and hurt him further.
“I then took him along the beach and a couple saw me and gave me a blanket to use as a stretcher to carry him up the hill.”
Chris waited by the main road and RSPCA animal rescuer, inspector Claire Little arrived at the scene.
She rushed the injured dog to a nearby vets where he was found to have a broken bone on the front of his leg and a dislocated knee on a back leg.
Claire contacted the local dog warden and Stewart had also reported Frank as missing to them so she was able to provide details to reunite the pair.
‘We are so grateful’
Stewart and Alison were relieved and delighted to find their beloved Frank had been found safe and he had survived his ordeal.
Last Wednesday (21 April) he had an operation to repair his broken leg and has had his injured back leg pinned. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Alison, 49, who is now looking after Frank at her home in Chesterfield, said: “He had an operation by our vet and I am so pleased he is doing really well in himself.
“He had a splint on until the operation was carried out on Tuesday and was able to hobble in the garden to do his business up until then.
“He is eating well and being his normal happy self, you really wouldn’t know he had been put through such an ordeal.
“It is fantastic he is doing so well after his ordeal and I am so grateful to Chris who went to his rescue and carried him up the cliff as the tide was coming in.
“Then the RSPCA helped reunite us with him – and the local vet helped make him comfortable until we got him home for veterinary surgery.
“We are so grateful to all involved for helping Frank and getting him back to us safely. He is now enjoying lots of cuddles and fuss from me.”
A very lucky boy
Claire said she was delighted that Frank escaped without serious injuries and that he is now doing well at home.
She said: “It is such a high drop – he was a very lucky boy to survive the fall and then to be found especially as the tide was coming in. I would like to thank Chris for being great and bringing him up the cliff from the beach.
“I am just so glad he is doing well and he is delighted to be back home enjoying lots of fuss with Allison.
“I would just like to remind people walking on coastal paths it is often good to put their dogs on leads in these areas. Often dogs can get excited with all the sights and sounds and even older pets may wander further than they normally do.”
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