Amber, a five-year-old retriever cross, escaped from her foster home near Bramshaw in the New Forest.
She'd only spent one night there before going missing after arriving from Qatar, where she’d spent most of her life in a shelter.
Sightings of Amber
Over the course of five weeks, she was spotted more than 60 times across the New Forest, moving steadily south-west. Eventually, she reached Sandbanks and swam across Poole Harbour to Brownsea Island, where a resident began leaving food out after noticing her.
Four days later, Amber tried to swim back and was spotted struggling by the crew of a passing ferry. Initially mistaking her for a seal, they realised she was a dog and pulled her aboard.
“She was struggling… she wouldn’t have made it,” said crew member Ethan Grant.
"What a girl"
Amber, now recovering and gaining weight, is back in the care of KS Angels Rescue. Her carers praised the public’s help and confirmed that the Brownsea Island resident who fed Amber has expressed interest in adopting her.
“She’s had quite the journey,” said rescuer Kelly Parker. “What a girl.”
