COASTGUARDS have again issued a warning to dog owners after a pet died when it plunged over cliffs at Lulworth.

Portland Coastguard was alerted to three separate incidents of dogs falling off cliffs on Saturday.

One of the animals died after plummeting 150ft from a cliff at Lulworth.

The springer spaniel was reported to coastguards as having fallen from a cliff at Durdle Door on Saturday afternoon.

His owners called 999 and a coastguard rescue team went to the scene but when the dog was found it had died in the fall.

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard said it had been off its lead and was chasing birds when it slipped over the edge.

He added: “The owners were very distressed and wanted to bring it back, so we recovered it. Our concern is that owners will try and get the pets back themselves – we did it to ensure the safety of the owners.”

On Saturday morning the coastguard received an emergency call reporting that a pet had fallen 40ft at Exmouth.

Rescue teams and RNLI lifeboat from Exmouth went to the scene and the golden retriever was reunited safe and well with its owners.

The final incident happened during the evening of the same day when the coastguard received a report of a dog that had gone over a cliff in Devon.

Fire crews and rescue teams from Sidmouth were sent to the scene and the dog was recovered safely.

Cindy Rodaway, Portland Coastguard watch manager, said: “When walking near cliffs you should keep your dog on a lead to keep them safe.”

Warning From Coastguards

COASTGUARDS issued a similar warning last month after a pet died when it plunged over cliffs on Portland.

The 12-year-old Doberman fell from a cliff at Blacknor. Coastguards recovered the dog, which had sadly died in the fall.

In August a black Labrador had a lucky escape after tumbling down a 100ft slope at Peverill Point, Swanage.