A dramatic rescue mission was launched after a dog had fallen off a cliff near the coast of Sunderland.
The dog had fallen from Souter Point in Whitburn on Sunday morning August 16 and onto the rocks below.
RNLI Sunderland Lifeboat Station and the Sunderland Coastguard Rescue launched lifeboats to help find the dog and its owner and help bring them to safety.
Sunderland RNLI said: "As our volunteers were finishing off from their Sunday training session today they were requested to launch our RNLI D-Class lifeboat to reports of a dog that had fallen from the cliffs at Souter Point.
"The crew quickly got underway and arrived at the location where a volunteer was landed ashore to assist with the safe recovery of the dog and its owner.
"Working alongside Sunderland Coastguard Rescue Team the dog and the owner were taken onboard the lifeboat back to Sunderland Marina. Our volunteers then recovered the lifeboat and returned to station."
The Sunderland Coastguard Rescue Team described how the dog's owner had attempted their own rescue but became "trapped" on a rock by an incoming tide.
The team said: "We were tasked to a dog over the cliff at what is known locally at 'The Wherry' in Whitburn coastal park. Information had also been recieved to suggest the owner was attempting a rescue of his own.
"As we proceeded we were able to make contact with RNLI - Sunderland Lifeboat Station who had been tasked at the end of a training exercise. They arrived on scene shortly before us and were able to give us the exact location of the casualty.
"When we arrived on scene the casualty and his dog had made their way to the base of the cliff and were trapped on a rock by the incoming tide.
"The lifeboat manoeuvred their boat to put a member of the crew ashore to assess the casualty and provide some much-needed reassurance.
"With the casualty no worse for his ordeal other than his wet clothing the decision was made for him to be recovered by lifeboat. Again with some outstanding seamanship, the lifeboat was manoeuvred to allow the crew, casualty and dog to be recovered with ease.
"The casualty was provided with casualty care and warm clothing by Lifeboat Crew and Coastguard Officers when they arrived at the lifeboat station."
Sunderland Coastguard has since issued a warning to dog walkers to always keep their pets on a lead around cliffs.
They continued: "When we arrived on scene there were a large number of spectators on the wrong side of the railings not far away from the cliff edge, some with dogs still off their lead.
"This incident was brought to a positive conclusion but let us remind anyone who may frequent our coast that the safety railings are there for a reason and we can't stress enough that dogs should be kept on a leash around cliffs to provide incidents like this from reoccurring.
"In any coastal emergency dial 999 and ask for the coastguard."
