Saffron Price-Walter and husband Stephen, of Eskdale, say their dog, Rosie, had just started training as a Search and Rescue dog [for mountain rescue] when her talents were demonstrated while out for a walk last Christmas.

She came across the deep hole on crumbling cliffs at St. Bees which provoked her to start barking excessively until her owners joined her.

 At the bottom of the hole they found another Border Collie, Cap, who they later discovered had fallen into the hole some eight weeks previous and was existing on the little rain water available under the freezing conditions.

Cap, owned by Egremont vicar,  the Rev Gavin Walker, and his wife Jo, of Bridge End Park, had bolted while out for a walk due to fireworks.

  The couple assumed the worst after weeks of searching and were astounded when they received the news that Cap had been found - skeletal and ill - but now safe.  They described Cap's rescue as a "Christmas miracle".  Stephen climbed into the hole and lifted out a tired and shell-shocked Cap but the main credit goes to Rosie and her gold award, in the pro dog awards at Sandown Park race-course, held this week, was for Devotion to Duty.  The couple travelled to Surry with Rosie on Sunday and were delighted with her achievement.

"It was really great to win the award and well worth the trip down there," said saffron. "And it's really good for Rosie because my husband is properly training her now as a search and rescue dog," she added.

Pro Dogs is a national charity which works to encourage a better appreciation and understanding of the importance of dogs for the benefit of people.  It has been in existence for over 25 years and has a membership of several  thousands of dog owners.  Each year exceptional dogs in the fields of Pet of the Year, Lifesaving and Devotion to Duty are awarded with gold medals.

Reproduced from the Whitehaven News.