IT WAS A ruff day for one Dublin dog today but it turned out to have a happy ending.

One-year-old springer spaniel pup Trixie was out walking with her owner at Deer Park on Howth Head in north county Dublin just before noon today when she ran away and fell down about 10 feet to a narrow ledge.

The dog was trapped precariously on the tiny shelf which was perched above a further steep 30 feet drop to the ground.

Trixie’s owner rang the Irish Coast Guard, who sprang (springer spaniel, sprang – geddit?) into action.

The cliff rescue team from Howth arrived at the scene and lowered one of its rescue climbers, Robin Blandford, down to the dog.

“Trixie had some initial concerns over this new arrival, dressed in bright clothing and a white helmet, joining her on the ledge,” a spokesperson for Howth Coast Guard said.

Blandford – described by the Coast Guard as a “skilled canine negotiator” – managed

to gently persuade Trixie that it would be in her best interests to trust him with promises of doggy treats awaiting her if she would agree to be lowered down to the ground.

After several nervous minutes, Trixie agreed with Blandford that his plan sounded good and was brought into a “doggy bag” – a contraption to stop her and the rescuer from getting to close during the descent from the height.

Trixie was reunited with her owner at the bottom of the cliff, who was, understandably, delighted, according to the Coast Guard.

The team then returned to their station, safe in the knowledge that they had done a paw-some (sorry) thing.

All images: Howth Coast Guard

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