An RNLI crew rescued a dog that had been lost for over 30 hours after they heard barking on an island that was rapidly being isolated by the rising tide.

Lola, a six-year-old cockapoo, got frightened by another dog and ran away from her owners, Laura and Eamonn Kinally, during a walk in Swansea, South Wales, at approximately 4:30 PM on January 7.

Mr. and Mrs. Kinally searched for Lola for as long as 31 hours before they finally heard barking on Middle Island, located three miles from where she had vanished the previous night, near the Mumbles lighthouse.

As the tide quickly rose, Lola’s family and extra search volunteers had no choice but to leave the island to avoid the danger of being trapped and potentially stranded.

They reached out to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) coastguard, and the volunteer team from the Mumbles Lifeboat Station quickly set out onto the water after dark.

Crew members noticed something in an eastern gully on the island and quickly discovered Lola, who was cold but otherwise fine.

The crew, trained to handle distressed animals, calmed Lola and safely brought her aboard the boat, wrapping her in blankets to ensure she stayed warm.

After a tense wait, the beloved dog was at last reunited with her family at Pier Beach.

Lola, a six-year-old cockapoo, became frightened by another dog and ran away from her owners during a walk in Swansea, South Wales, at approximately 4:30 PM on January 7.

Lola’s owners, Laura and Eamonn Kinally (shown in the picture), had been looking for their cherished pet for as long as 31 hours before they finally heard barking on Middle Island, close to the Mumbles lighthouse.

The Mumbles Lifeboat Station’s volunteer RNLI crew ventured out into the darkness to rescue Lola, discovering her cold but otherwise unharmed.

Mrs. Kinally expressed her admiration for the RNLI and conveyed her immense gratitude for rescuing her cherished pet, Lola, who is currently relishing an abundance of food and affection.

She expressed, “I was emotional when I learned they had located her. During the rescue, Eamonn heard over the radio that the RNLI had spotted a dog wearing a Christmas sweater, so we realized it was her.”

When she got home, she was extremely hungry, so she immediately went to eat. I can’t imagine how I would handle it if we had actually lost Lola for good.

This summer, I intend to participate in a sponsored walk along the path that we believe Lola took, in order to raise funds for the volunteer RNLI lifeboat service as a way to show our appreciation.

The couple was assisted by the Missing Dogs Team Wales on social media, as well as local community members who utilized their ring doorbells to help locate Lola, who was wearing a unique Christmas sweater when she disappeared.

Lola was captured on a doorbell camera around 11:30 PM on January 7, but she was missing by the time her family got there.

She was later seen at a nearby ice cream shop, at the beach, in a park, and even crossing a busy road.

Mr. Kinally expressed, “It was a great relief. They mentioned that she had been hiding in a cave and needed to be rescued. When she returned, she was soaked and trembling, but they provided her with blankets.”

Mrs. Kinally expressed that Lola is currently relishing in ample food and affection. She shared her deep admiration for the RNLI, stating that she is incredibly grateful for their efforts in rescuing her cherished pet.

Lola was seen on various local residents’ ring doorbell cameras at an ice cream shop, the beach, a park, and even while crossing a busy dual carriageway.

James Cunliffe, a volunteer crew member, mentioned that the rescue marked the team’s first call of the year. He also noted that the RNLI rescued 164 dogs from the UK’s coastline in 2022 alone.

“The team was amazing, and we are extremely thankful to each of them, along with everyone else who contributed.”

James Cunliffe, a volunteer crew member, stated that the rescue was the team’s first call of the year.

Mr. Cunliffe stated, “We are thrilled to have brought Lola back together with her family and we greatly appreciate any fundraising assistance for the RNLI, which enables us to keep saving lives at sea.”

This rescue underscores the significance of avoiding danger while searching for a lost pet.

If you encounter an animal in distress along the coast or in the water, please avoid trying to rescue it on your own, as this may put you at risk. Instead, call 999 and request the Coastguard.

In 2022, the RNLI saved 164 dogs from the shores of the UK, including those caught in the waves. The charity continues to advise dog owners to exercise caution when walking their pets on beaches.

Ref: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14342017/RNLI-coastguard-rescue-dog-search-missing-pet.html