Longer Walks
Dog walkers are being warned of the potential danger of being cut off by the tide during beach walks with their pets. Now that the weather is warmer and the sun is making more of an appearance in skies above Britain, more and more people choose to take their dogs to the beach, often spending much longer there than they would during the colder months. This means that tidal changes can occur during the time-frame of a walk, especially in areas affected by fast incoming tides.
It is also the time of the year when people start taking trips and holidays to different locations, often with their pets in tow. It can seem like an idyllic plan to explore unknown beaches with man’s best friend but this pleasure can soon turn to panic for people who have not spent the time familiarising themselves with local conditions and the tide times in the area.
5 Dog Walkers Rescued
In a rescue last year, five dog walkers had to be helped by Ulverston Inshore Rescue when they were left stranded on mud banks after the incoming tide cut them off in the River Leven Estuary near Morecambe Bay. The group consisted of two children, three adults and two dogs. A Coastguard spokesman said the group ‘must have’ started off at low tide and must not have realised that the water would soon surround them.
A spokesman for Ulverston Inshore Rescue in Cumbria urged people to ‘seek local knowledge’, as well as being aware of tide times before venturing out in the area. The adults, children and dogs were unhurt in the incident.
