Pet fell 200feet off cliffs

A PET dog plunged 200feet to its death when an afternoon walk on cliffs ended in tragedy last Sunday.

Sidmouth Lifeboat was scrambled for the first time this year to search for the missing Labrador at around 3.20pm.

The crew, and Exmouth Coastguard, responded to a report a four-year-old dog had run over the edge of a cliff at Brandy Head - between Ladram Bay and Budleigh Salterton.

Rescuers have urged walkers to keep their dogs on leads and away from cliff edges if enjoying popular coastal paths in the area.

A close inshore search was carried out and the animal was located on rocks at the base of the cliff. The tide was out. The pet had not survived the fall. Lifeboat crew recovered the animal’s body.

Sidmouth Lifeboat second coxswain Phil Shepperd said: “It is always sad when the outcome is like this and our thoughts are with the dog’s owners”.

The Herald understands two women were walking dogs along the cliff tops and neither had leads with them. One of the pets vanished suddenly.

It is believed the deceased dog’s owner lives in Budleigh.

Paul Howell, Exmouth Coastguard deputy station manager, said: “We would urge owners to keep their pets on leads and away from cliff edges when walking their dogs on cliff tops.”