You lucky dog: Meet a pooch that fell off a cliff, and lived to bark another day

What began as a play date in a sheep pasture turned into a miraculous rescue effort for a dog who survived an estimated 70-foot drop off a cliff earlier this week.

Joey the golden doodle was playing with another dog near the Trail of the Eagle in Salmon Cove, N.L. on Wednesday, according to the Town of Victoria's volunteer fire department chief Justin Parsons, when he ended up at a portion of broken fence and fell down the bank.

"It was very extreme. Like it was a straight drop," Parsons said.

"He's a very lucky animal. He dropped approximately 60 to 70 feet and he was hanging on. There was just enough cliff down there for him to stand on. That was about it."

Parsons said he's not entirely sure how Joey was able to survive the fall, but crews theorized the dog likely hit the water first and then was able to swim to safety.

Crews responded to calls from Joey's owner at around 3:30 p.m. NT Wednesday, and quickly began efforts to get a boat in the water for a rescue.

Paul Ash, deputy chief of the Harbour Grace volunteer fire department, said a zodiac boat faced challenges with winds, tides and tight manoeuvres around the cove, but was able to reach Joey.

"Where he had fallen, it was just kind of one rock that was exposed," Ash said.

"At first the dog was a bit aggressive … it was complete strangers coming, and we actually had to use a special type of pole that we got to get his collar. And he kind of settled down somewhat, and then when we got him in the boat I guess he was reassured that he was safe and on his way."

Other than a bit of blood on his forehead, Ash said Joey showed no signs of any major injury.

He said both rescue crews and Joey's owner were emotional when they were reunited.

"Pets to some people are very, very big and emotional support, you know, for a number of reasons … I have two of my own, and I refer to them as emotional support dogs because of such a long time involved in the emergency service," he said.

"It did mean a lot."

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