Rock RNLI welcomes some four legged visitors!

Staff from the local RSPCA Centre at St. Columb visited Rock RNLI lifeboat station recently, together with several different breeds of dog, to offer some advice and guidance to our RNLI volunteer crew members as to how best handle and support dogs they may encounter during rescues.

Rock RNLI lifeboat has been tasked to many rescues where dogs, as well as their owners, have required the assistance of the lifeboat.

Prevention is key for the RNLI - helping people by providing communities with the skills and knowledge to keep themselves and their pets safe around water and when they visit the coast.

Volunteer Senior Helm from Rock RNLI, Charlie Toogood said: ‘By following a few simple steps dog owners can help reduce the number of these types of incidents and keep themselves from further danger. We'd advise owners to keep dogs on a lead near the edge, and if the worst happens they should not attempt to rescue their pet as they may end getting themselves into difficulty. Instead, people should call the Coastguard on 112 or 999.’

During the course of their visit, the RSPCA staff were able to help our volunteers to identify characteristics of different dogs which are likely to be distressed and possibly injured when the lifeboat arrives.

Several of our volunteer crew became quite attached to our four legged visitors, but realised the benefit of their visit.

Charlie added: 'We are most grateful to the RSPCA for coming to our station and giving us some good advice when encountering and handling dogs in the course of our duties.'

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.