Dog survives 65ft plunge into sea during first walk with new owners

A dog survived unscathed after plunging 65ft off cliffs into the sea during a walk with his new owners. Andy and Joanna Finlay had just picked up the German Shepherd and stopped at Portlethen in Aberdeenshire on their way home to Kirriemuir in Angus.

But five-year-old Twinnie backed over the cliffs, and landed in the sea, narrowly missing rocks. Coastguards and a police dog handler were called in and rescued him from the shoreline.



The couple had picked the dog up from Huntly, and gone for a walk at Portlethen on Sunday evening. Mr Finlay, 39, said: "We were getting back in the car and the dog took off. We were searching for around half an hour. Then we found him and were trying to get him, but he backed off and fell. Luckily he seemed to go straight into the water rather than hitting rocks."

He explained: "Coastguards and the police were called, they saw the glint of his eyes with a torch and found him lying half in and half out of the water. He was absolutely terrified but otherwise fine. He seems very happy now. The rescuers did a sterling job."