COASTGUARDS are warning owners to keep their dogs on leads on high ground following a sad incident in which a dog lost its life last night.

At around 6.30pm yesterday evening (Tuesday, February 21) the Burnham Coastguard Rescue Team were paged to reports of a walker attempting to find their Boxer dog which had fallen over the south side of Brean Down.

When the crew arrived they asked the owner to refrain from searching for their own safety and began working to try and find the dog.

The dog was last seen at Trig point, it had chased the goats that live on the Down and disappeared out of sight.
Despite the owner chasing after the dog it had gone.

"They had been admiring the sunset from the Fort and were just returning to their car when it happened," a Burnham Coastguard Rescue spokesman said.

Two Coastguard team members kitted up with life jackets for a search along the base of the Down but due to the incoming tide and risk of getting cut off they returned to the safety of the beach.

Meanwhile the other team members were on the top of the Down and performed a search too.

It was Weston Lifeboats who were tasked with searching where Coastguards were unable to reach once the tide was in that discovered the lifeless body of the boxer dog.

"The dog was then handed over to the emotional owners who were very grateful for our assistance," the Coastguard spokesman said.

"A sad ending to an enjoyable family walk. A classic example of why it is so important to keep your dogs on a lead on high ground.

"So many owners including this one tell us how obedient their dog is, and how they never chase goats, rabbits or even run off.

"While this may be true under normal circumstances bear in mind dogs are built to run and chase it's what they do, no matter how well you think they are trained they can get lost in the sights and smells of the Down and soon find themselves in danger."

"Please don't take risks with an important member of your family."

Coastguards urged walkers not to take risks searching for dogs in case 'they become casualties themselves'.