Beloved dog Mali missing for weeks on Arranmore is found alive on cliff face

After being missing on Arranmore for 15 days, the beautiful Bernese mountain dog Mali has been found safe and well.

Trapped on a cliff edge, Mali was spotted from a boat operated by North West Charters after one of the crew heard a dog barking. 

It appears that her lead had become caught in a rock. Incredibly, she is in good health - and beside herself with joy to be reunited with her owners, a German family who were on holidays in Ireland at the time.

Owner Sarah Recinos Ralda shared her family’s relief and gratitude on social media, saying: “She’s been found and saved from the cliffs below the lighthouse by a group of amazing people. 

“She’s not dehydrated, pretty alert, has lost a little bit of weight and overall just acts veeerryyy hungry. 

“We still can’t believe it and are overwhelmed.”

The family were visiting Arranmore on August 16 when, despite being on a lead, Mali ran off. It is thought that she was spooked by high winds, which also hampered the initial search as her owners’ calls and Mali’s barks could not be heard. 

Members of the Arranmore community have been a massive support to Mali’s owners, searching the island on numerous occasions, using drones when the weather permitted, and scanning the cliffs from land and sea.

As time went on with not a single sighting of Mali, hope faded, so it was a huge surprise when she was spotted on Saturday. 

John Paul Baskin of North West Charters contacted Malin Head Coast Guard, and the call was heard by a member of the public who immediately went to Mali’s location. 

The dog was rescued, and was brought to Burtonport by North West Charters to be reunited with her delighted owners who were staying in Kincasslagh.