"Miracle" dog Mali missing for 2 weeks found on a cliff edge in Co Donegal

A family on vacation in Ireland has been reunited with their dog after she was found on a cliff edge in Co Donegal, two weeks after she went missing.

Mali, a Bernese mountain dog, had run away from her owners near the lighthouse on Arranmore Island in Co Donegal on August 16. 

An extensive search by local islanders and tourists took place to find the beloved pet after her German owners, who were on a month-long vacation in Ireland, put out an appeal for help.

They feared she had run off the imposing cliffs near the lighthouse, but on Saturday, August 31 she was spotted halfway down the cliffs by a group out fishing. 

The captain of the boat, John Paul Baska of North West Charters, spoke to RTÉ News about the moment they spotted Mali.

"One of the lads said he thought he heard a dog barking and I thought he was having us on because we all knew everyone was looking for Mali.

"He said he was serious and we turned off the engine and we could hear the barking clearly. It was hard to spot her because she is black and the cliffs are dark and it was only because of the small patch of white on her chest that we could see her.

The group immediately contacted Malin Head Coat Gaurd and she was soon rescued. It transpired that Mali's leash had become caught on a rock on a ledge and she could not move.

Mali's owner Sarah Recinos Ralda posted on Arranmore's Facebook community page to share the good news and to give an update on Mali's health.

"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," she said.