Dog Lost Overboard Found Four Months Later

Scottie2 · 09-04-2009, 08:12

SYDNEY (AFP) - A pet dog that fell overboard in rough seas off Australia has been reunited with its owners after surviving alone on an island for four months, reports said.

Sophie Tucker, apparently named after a late US entertainer, fell overboard as Jan Griffith and her family sailed through choppy waters off the northeast Queensland coast in November.

The dog was believed to have drowned and Griffith said the family was devastated.

But out of sight of the family, Sophie Tucker was swimming doggedly and finally made it to St Bees Island, five nautical miles away, and began the sort of life popularised by the TV reality show "Survivor."

She was returned to her family last week when Griffith contacted rangers who had captured a dog that had been living off feral goats on the largely uninhabited island, in the faint hope it might be their long-lost pet.

When the Griffiths met the rangers' boat bringing the dog to the mainland they found that it was indeed Sophie Tucker on board.

"We called the dog and she started whimpering and banging the cage and they let her out and she just about flattened us," Griffith told the national AAP news agency.

"She wriggled around like a mad thing."

Griffith said that when the dog was first spotted on the island she had been in poor condition.

"And then all of a sudden she started to look good and it was when the rangers had found baby goat carcasses so she'd started eating baby goats," she said.

Sophie Tucker, a member of the Australian cattle dog breed, had been quick to readjust to the comforts of home, complete with airconditioning, Griffiths said.

"She surprised us all. She was a house dog and look what she's done, she's swum over five nautical miles, she's managed to live off the land all on her own," Griffiths said.

"We wish she could talk, we truly do."

Dog overboard found four months later - Yahoo! Canada News

**David M** · 09-04-2009, 08:27

Great story...thanks!

Maren · 12-04-2009, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottie2

SYDNEY (AFP) - A pet dog that fell overboard in rough seas off Australia has been reunited with its owners after surviving alone on an island for four months, reports said.

"And then all of a sudden she started to look good and it was when the rangers had found baby goat carcasses so she'd started eating baby goats," she said.

Sea turtles, mate.

anthon · 14-04-2009, 14:16

What a great story!
Thanks for sharing

Blue Stocking · 14-04-2009, 14:24

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but desperation is it's father.

I wish I were half the man my dog thinks I am. Great story ending

shesailsdp · 04-05-2009, 20:13

Amazing story....love it!!

drew.ward · 04-05-2009, 23:07

wasn't there a post on here a while back about a dog trapped on an island?

09-04-2009, 08:12	#1
Scottie2 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 40	Dog Lost Overboard Found Four Months Later SYDNEY (AFP) - A pet dog that fell overboard in rough seas off Australia has been reunited with its owners after surviving alone on an island for four months, reports said. Sophie Tucker, apparently named after a late US entertainer, fell overboard as Jan Griffith and her family sailed through choppy waters off the northeast Queensland coast in November. The dog was believed to have drowned and Griffith said the family was devastated. But out of sight of the family, Sophie Tucker was swimming doggedly and finally made it to St Bees Island, five nautical miles away, and began the sort of life popularised by the TV reality show "Survivor." She was returned to her family last week when Griffith contacted rangers who had captured a dog that had been living off feral goats on the largely uninhabited island, in the faint hope it might be their long-lost pet. When the Griffiths met the rangers' boat bringing the dog to the mainland they found that it was indeed Sophie Tucker on board. "We called the dog and she started whimpering and banging the cage and they let her out and she just about flattened us," Griffith told the national AAP news agency. "She wriggled around like a mad thing." Griffith said that when the dog was first spotted on the island she had been in poor condition. "And then all of a sudden she started to look good and it was when the rangers had found baby goat carcasses so she'd started eating baby goats," she said. Sophie Tucker, a member of the Australian cattle dog breed, had been quick to readjust to the comforts of home, complete with airconditioning, Griffiths said. "She surprised us all. She was a house dog and look what she's done, she's swum over five nautical miles, she's managed to live off the land all on her own," Griffiths said. "We wish she could talk, we truly do." Dog overboard found four months later - Yahoo! Canada News

09-04-2009, 08:27	#2
David M Moderator Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Boat: research vessel Posts: 5,172	Great story...thanks! __________________ David Life begins where land ends.

04-05-2009, 23:07	#7
drew.ward Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Melbourne, FL Boat: Nomoboat -- yay Gustav ;) Posts: 240	wasn't there a post on here a while back about a dog trapped on an island? __________________

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anthon Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 18	What a great story! Thanks for sharing

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