Lost Dog Swims to an Island and Travels 160 km in a Real-Life Disney Tale
In a story straight out of a movie, Amber the retriever cross vanished for over a month, journeyed across 160 km of English countryside, and even swam to an island—before finally being rescued by ferry crew who mistook her for a seal.
A Journey Beyond Belief
Amber, a 5-year-old retriever mix born in Qatar, had recently arrived in the UK under the care of an animal rescue charity. On April 25, she slipped away from her foster home near Bramshaw in the New Forest, southern England. What followed was a 36-day odyssey that captured the hearts of dog lovers across the country.
Despite multiple sightings along her route, Amber eluded all capture attempts. Volunteers and locals tried tirelessly to help, but Amber, frightened and in survival mode, wouldn’t let anyone near. “She would have run from anyone—she was in a wild state of mind,” said Kelly Parker, founder of the KS Angels Rescue charity, to the BBC.
Swimming to Safety—or So She Thought
Amber’s trail eventually led her to the coast near Poole. But instead of stopping there, she took an astonishing turn—by swimming across open water to reach Brownsea Island. There, she stayed for four days, reportedly being fed by a kind islander who spotted her.
She then attempted the swim back, an act that could have proved fatal. That’s when a ferry crew spotted what they thought was a struggling seal in the water. As they got closer, they realized it was a dog fighting the waves.
“I thought, ‘What is a dog doing out here?’” said one crew member to The Guardian. “She was clearly struggling, so we knew we had to get her out. She wouldn’t have made it otherwise.”
Found Safe, Sound—and in Demand
Rescued from the water and taken to a veterinarian, Amber was found to be in excellent health despite her ordeal. Her foster family was overjoyed to be reunited with her. But her adventure may have brought her something even better: a forever home.
Kelly Parker revealed that the woman who befriended Amber during her stay on Brownsea Island has already expressed interest in adopting her. Discussions are now underway to finalize the adoption.
Amber: A Symbol of Spirit and Survival
Amber’s incredible story is more than just a lost dog tale—it’s a reminder of the enduring bond between dogs and humans, and the unbreakable will of an animal determined to find her way. Her resilience has made her a national sensation, and for good reason.
Not every journey has a happy ending. But Amber’s does—and it’s only just beginning.
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