Heartwarming moment dog is rescued from cliffside after six-day search sparked when he ran away from home

A dog has been reunited with its owner after a six-day search ended with the animal being dramatically rescued from a treacherous cliffside.

Rescue dog Jake ran out of his owner’s home in Mevagissey, Cornwall, on August 9 and was discovered almost a week later at coastal beauty spot, The Dodman, more than four miles away.

His worried owners frantically sparked a major rescue call across the southwestern coast, and the first sighting of him was in the tiny fishing village of Gorran Haven two days later.

Dozens of volunteers arrived on foot and in their vehicles to search gardens, fields and woodland deep into the nighttime – but he was mysteriously nowhere to be seen.

Efforts ramped up the next day with locals rallying together to try and bring the four-legged explorer home.

Taking to The Dodman after receiving another tip, the locals deployed cameras and drones overnight, but to no avail.

The drones revealed a flurry of animal activity in the area from badgers, foxes and deer, but not from Jake – and volunteers said they ‘feared the worst’.

That is until one passerby spotted the pooch curled into a ball on the idyllic cliffside last Thursday.

He was placed straight into the back of his worried owner’s car and wrapped in a blanket after being found

‘The absolutely incredible coastguards from St Austell and Mevagissey quickly got to work setting up to go down, their work was phenomenal,’ a recue group posted to Facebook.

‘It was then realised Jake had moved! Fowey RNLI was called to support and was able to be additional eyes from the sea. Jake was up, making his way back and forth along the coastline.’

However, the normally ‘timid and shy’ pup was in a precarious spot having landed himself so close to the ledge, and had to be very carefully guided back to safety by his nervous owner.

She gently called his name, capturing his attention, and he fixated on her. This was all part of the ‘long waiting game’ to get him back as he trod a treacherous path to her.

With the help of the coastguards who threw up an extra slip lead, Jake managed to get ‘closer and closer’ before being emotionally reunited with his owner.

Volunteers and members of the coastguard frantically searched the southwestern coast for the pup

‘Many many happy tears were shared from numerous people. People there and people who were involved patiently waiting for updates,’ Keeping Hope Dog Rescue Cornwall wrote on social media. 

‘Jake is a timid shy rescue dog and lots of people being there would have been overwhelming. We were so grateful that the coastguards listened to advice we were able to give them in the best way to get Jake’s trust and back safely.

‘All of the people that were involved are all volunteers and it just goes to show how many amazing people we have locally that have helped out of the goodness of their hearts.

‘So from us and Jake’s family, THANK YOU.’

The pup was placed straight into the back of his owner’s car and wrapped in a blanket. 

He has since been driven home for a cuddle and had his well-trodden paws cleaned.