Rescue dog swam to Brownsea Island after New Forest escape

Amber the five-year-old Retriever bolted from her foster family’s home in Bramshaw on April 25 after she was rescued from Qatar.

A frantic 36-day search ensued, with husband-and-wife duo Sam Collins and Kelly Parker of KS Angels Rescue leading the charge.

Several sightings of Amber were reported to the pair in the days that followed, but neither of them expected her to get as far as Poole – a 30-mile journey from her New Forest home.

Amber with her foster family in Bramshaw (Image: KS Angels Rescue) But what shocked the pair the most was hearing that she swum to Brownsea Island and was swimming back to the mainland when she was rescued by fishermen on Saturday, May 31.

“If she swam from there, that was about a mile or so of swimming", Sam, 38, said.

“Luckily, the people on the boat yesterday morning spotted her and brought her in.”

It is thought that Amber spent around four days on Brownsea Island after befriending a woman who lives there, before attempting to make the journey back on Saturday.

Kelly, 36, said: “She is back with her foster family now, who did everything they could in the first place to prevent this, such as installing eight-foot-high deer fencing, but Amber was determined.

“We think she escaped by digging underneath the fence.”

Sam joked they “will keep Amber on three leads at all times now”.

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Despite spending more than five weeks on the road, Amber is unscathed.

Her flea and tick collar kept the insects at bay, and she has a “few scabs and abrasions”.

Sam said: “We took her to the vets this morning, June 1, and apart from being underweight, she was given a clean bill of health.”

Kelly said she could not believe it when she heard how far Amber had travelled, describing her as “remarkable”.

'Miracle' rescue dog Amber survived 36 days on the run after escaping from Bramshaw and swimming to Brownsea Island (Image: KS Angels Rescue) “Amber is the fifth dog from Qatar we have rescued after she was found on the streets as a puppy”, she said.

“It is miraculous she did not get run over.”

Both Sam and Kelly praised the exceptional response from residents across Hampshire and Dorset who helped in the search for Amber.

Kelly said: “We did not expect that response from people, but 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.”