Latest news with #BrownseaIsland
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Dog's 36-day escapade ends on island 40 miles from home
A lost dog has returned home after a 40-mile journey that finished with a swim across a harbour. Amber, a five-year-old retriever cross, had been missing for 36 days when she was picked up by a boat crew. The rescue dog went missing from her foster home at Bramshaw, in the New Forest, on April 25. In the following days, there were 63 reported sightings of her in the National Park, with food stations put out and cameras set up to try and locate her. But she somehow walked in a south-westerly direction across the Forest to the coast and ended up in Sandbanks, Poole. She then paddled for one mile across Poole Harbour to reach Brownsea Island. One of the few residents on the island put out food for Amber each night after spotting her. But after four days, the dog attempted to swim back to the mainland and was seen by the crew of a passing ferry who thought she was a seal. Crew mate Ethan Grant said: 'I then realised it was a dog and thought, 'what's that doing out there?' You could see she was struggling, so we thought we need to get her out otherwise she wouldn't have made it.' Amber was checked by a vet and, despite spending five weeks on her own, was found to be relatively unscathed. She lost a lot of weight and is now getting extra meals to gain it back before she can be considered for adoption. Amber had been rescued as a street puppy in Qatar but had spent most of her life in a shelter there. She was brought to the UK by KS Angels Rescue, an organisation run by husband and wife team Sam Collins and Kelly Parker. Amber had been staying with foster carer Jess Wadsworth, who said she had no idea how the dog had escaped past 8ft-high deer fencing. Ms Wadsworth said: 'We were really concerned because she had no knowledge of the UK, no one she had bonded with and she was just running from everyone. We were wondering how on earth we would ever get her back.' Both Mr Collins and Ms Parker praised the response from residents across Hampshire and Dorset who helped in the search for Amber. Ms Parker said: 'Thanks to them, we have been able to track Amber as we had sightings most days. Now she will be spending time with her foster family as she needs fattening up and help building up her tolerance to people. 'The woman Amber befriended on Brownsea Island has already contacted us about adoption, so we are in talks with her.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Lost dog went on incredible 40-mile journey for five weeks and even swam to an island before being found
A lost dog has been found after making an incredible 40-mile journey and even swimming to an island. Amber, a five-year-old retriever cross, had been missing for 36 days when she was picked up by a boat crew as she tried to swim back to the mainland. The rescue dog vanished from her foster home in Bramshaw in the New Forest on April 25. In the following days there were 63 reported sightings of her in the National Park, with food stations were put out and cameras set up in a bid to locate her. She somehow walked in a south westerly direction across the forest to the coast, ending up on Sandbanks in Poole. Amber then doggy-paddled for one mile across Poole Harbour to reach Brownsea Island. During her four days on the tiny island, she was befriended by one of its mere 30 residents who laid out food for her every night. Amber then attempted to swim back to the mainland but was fortunately spotted by the crew of a passing ferry who initially mistook her for a seal. Noticing she was struggling with the tide, the heroic crew turned the boat around before someone jumped into the water to help her. Ethan Granta, a member of the crew, said: 'I then realised it was a dog and thought 'what's that doing out there?' 'You could see she was struggling so we thought we need to get her out otherwise she wouldn't have made it.' Amber was checked out by a vet and, despite spending five weeks fending for herself, was left relatively unscathed. Unsurprisingly, the young pet had lost a lot of weight and is now getting extra meals to gain it back before she can be considered for adoption. Amber had previously been rescued as a street puppy in Qatar but had then spent most of her life living in a shelter there. Kelly Parker, who runs KS Rescue, the dog rescue service Amber was brought to after arriving in the UK, said she could not believe how far Amber had travelled, describing her as 'remarkable' She was later brought to the UK by KS Angels Rescue, an organisation run by husband and wife team Sam Collins, 38, and Kelly Parker, 36. At the time of her disappearance, the young pup had been staying with foster carer Jess Wadsworth in Bramshaw who said she had no idea how she escaped from her home as she had eight foot-high deer fencing installed. Ms Wadsworth said: 'We were really concerned because she had no knowledge of the UK, no one she had bonded with and she was just running from everyone. 'We were wondering how on earth we would ever get her back.' Meanwhile Mr Collins said that during her time at the rescue centre Amber had not yet formed bonds with the staff and so often 'bolted' at an unbelievably fast speed, remarking: 'she was always moving faster than we were'. He added: 'She was absolutely all over the place, she kept returning to where she went missing from and was moving in bigger and bigger circles. 'But then we had no sightings for a week before I got a call that she was on a boat. 'We know she entered the water at Sandbanks as we were sent a photo of her there. It is about a mile of swimming, which is just incredible.' Ms Parker said she could not believe how far Amber had travelled, describing her as 'remarkable'. She said: 'It is miraculous she did not get run over. We are absolutely over the moon that she is back. 'We took her to the vets and apart from being underweight, she was given a clean bill of health.' Both Mr Collins and Ms Parker praised the response from residents across Hampshire and Dorset who assisted in the search for Amber. The young pup will now be spending some time recovering from her extraordinary ordeal with her foster family, who hope she will slowly be able to build a tolerance to other people. Ms Wadsworth also confirmed that the woman Amber befriended on Brownsea Island is 'in talks' with the pair about the possibility of adopting her.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Dog home safe after Brownsea Island swim and 100-mile trip
A dog that went missing for 36 days is thought to have covered about 100 miles (161km) and swam to an island before being rescued as it tried to swim was being cared for by a foster family near Bramshaw in the New Forest when she escaped after just a night there on 25 retriever cross, who was rescued as a street puppy in Qatar and moved to the UK as part of a charity's efforts to rehome mistreated dogs, is thought to have swam to Brownsea charity's co-founder said she hopes adventurous Amber will have a "calmer, more stable spirit" in future in her forever home. Amber was regularly spotted on her trip across Hampshire and Dorset but Kelly Parker, who set up KS Angels Rescue, said the dog had entered a "wild mindset" until Saturday's rescue."We had a lot of well-meaning people and they really did try to help. Unfortunately with a dog that is scared and has entered that wild mindset, with any people, she would have run," she said. Every time she was spotted, Amber would have covered another five or six miles (8km or 9.6km), she added."It's been frustrating, we've felt like we were always behind her. It's definitely been an experience I would rather not have again – but a happy ending." Amber was fed by one of Brownsea Island's few residents after she managed to make it to the island - but left after just a few days. She was spotted by two men in a boat in Poole Harbour and they rescued her before alerting Lost Dog Recovery, which had helped the search for her. Jess Wadsworth, who had been looking after Amber before she scarpered, said Amber's disappearance left her whole family anxious for weeks."I still can't quite believe [Amber is back]," she said."We've lost a pet dog for two or three days. You think in those terms. I have never known a dog that travels that many miles and survives."She's already in really good nick compared to how long she had gone for. What a girl."But she said Amber is being carefully watched to ensure she does not make another swift escape. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Family-friendly island to host poo-themed activity trail
Brownsea Island is set to provide a unique learning experience for families this May. The National Trust has announced the return of its popular Poo-tastic Activity Trail and Way of the Wild bushcraft taster sessions. The Poo-tastic trail is a quirky initiative dedicated to educating participants about the intriguing world of animal droppings. The trail seeks to shed light on the innovative ways animals reuse poo as a resource. One such example is the behaviour of insect-eating creatures, who sift through droppings in search of their next meal. READ MORE: National Trust Dorset spring events including egg hunt Families dive into the wild world of animal droppings this May half-term (Image: Trevor Ray Hart) Interestingly, bat droppings, also known as guano, have been used to make explosives due to their high saltpetre content. This component was used in fireworks and explosives during World War I. The Poo-tastic trail will be open daily from Saturday, May 24, to Sunday, June 1, and is free of charge. Families can look forward to engaging in fun games such as cow pat frisbee, wombat Jenga, and the sloth poo dance, all of which will not involve real poo. Those who complete the trail will be rewarded with an "I've dung the poo trail" sticker. SEE MORE:Dorset estate among England's best National Trust sites Brownsea Island revives its hit Poo-tastic trail with quirky family fun (Image: Dawn Clark) Visitor experience officer, Dawn Clark, said: "We introduced the Poo-tastic trail last year and we were blown away by how poopular the event was. "Families really love the funny side of this unusual trail and lots of fun was had by all. "We are looking forward to seeing plenty of laughter and minds blown by poo-mazing facts again this year." In addition to the Poo-tastic trail, bushcraft expert Joe Peartree will be conducting three hour-long bushcraft taster sessions on Friday, May 30. These sessions will provide hands-on experience in essential survival skills, including fire lighting, shelter construction, and plant and tree identification. The sessions, suitable for children aged seven and above, cost £6.50 per person. These events offer a unique opportunity for families to learn, work together, and have fun in the process. However, attendees should be aware that ferry fares and island entrance fees apply for non-members. For more information, visit the Brownsea Island website or contact the visitor centre.
