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RNLI rescues spaniel stuck in cove
Pictured: Woody at Port Isaac RNLI boathouse, safe after his dramatic rescue.

Woody fell off a cliff, and had been missing for three days. 

A sprocker spaniel has been rescued by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), after falling  off a cliff in north Cornwall and going missing for three days.

Woody, a nine-month-old sprocker spaniel, was out on a coastal walk with his owners when he disappeared from their view. After searching for more then 24 hours, Woody's owners were incredibly distressed, unsure if they would ever see him again. 

Jon, Woody's owner, said: “We felt sick to the stomach going back without Woody. Then we had a phone call telling us that a dog had been heard barking down a cliff.

“Words can’t express how delighted and overjoyed we were.”

After falling 150ft down the cliff, and having been missing for three days, Woody was eventually discovered when a walker heard him barking. A farmer local to the area kindly used a drone to locate Woody, and found him inside a steep-sided cove.

The farmer notified the RNLI, and Port Isaac's RNLI volunteer crew navigated their D class inshore lifeboat through a large swell to rescue Woody. 

RNLI crew member Ben Spicer commented on the rescue: “Woody gave us a good run around to start off with as he was understandably distressed, cold, tired and hungry.

“It felt fantastic to get Woody out of there and back to his owners. I can only imagine how horrid it must have felt not knowing his circumstances over those days

“It was a great team effort with multiple organisations involved, Cornwall Search Dogs, DogLost Cornwall, Boscastle CG and the RNLI all working harmoniously and achieving a positive outcome. It could have very easily gone the other way for Woody.” 

Jon thanked the crew who saved Woody: “The whole thing is a miracle: it’s amazing that he survived the fall, the couple of nights alone and that he was rescued. How on earth?

“We can’t thank the RNLI crew enough. We’ve always donated to the RNLI. I’ve been a Shoreline member for years and when my wife’s father died, we donated as well, never knowing that we would need them to rescue our dog.”

Image (C) RNLI.

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Vets launch new podcast for pet owners

News Story 1
 Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.

The venture, called Vets Talking Pets, provides advice and information on a range of topics, including how to select a suitable pet, where to obtain them and how to get the best out of your vet. Maggie and Vanessa will also discuss sensitive subjects, including end-of-life care, raw food diets and the cost of veterinary care.

The podcast can be found on all the usual podcast sites, including Podbean, Apple, Amazon Music and YouTube. 

Click here for more...
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RCVS Regional Question Time heads to Edinburgh

The RCVS is to bring its Regional Question Time (RQT) to Edinburgh for 2026.

The event will take place at Novotel Edinburgh Park in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

It will begin with supper and drinks at 6.30pm, with an evening programme from 7.30pm. This will start with an update on RCVS' activities, followed by questions and answers with representatives.

RCVS is encouraging an 'open dialogue', in which queries can be raised in a friendly, informal environment.

While discussions are expected to be audience-led, the RQT is expected address major issues including the VSA, the CMA's remedy package and the VN Vision project.

Tim Parkin, RCVS president, said: "It's an important time for the professions, and I'm looking forward to meeting colleagues in Scotland as we navigate this period of change together so we can come out stronger."

Tickets can be booked here.