A SOUTH Ayrshire vet is joining the ‘Respect the Water’ campaign by providing information to customers after dog walkers were identified as a ‘high risk’ group for drowning.

Collier & Brook in Troon, along with Ivybank Vets in Irvine, will be helping to educate dog walkers on what to do when their family pooch is struggling in the water.

Over the past year the RNLI has launched 132 times in rescuing 119 dog walkers around our coastline and sadly, not all can be saved, as was the case in the recent case of Alex Hardy from Sunderland.

Alex Hardy and his fiancée Jo Wardle were on a walk that they had done countless times before with their dogs along Hendon Beach.

Only this day one of the dogs got into trouble in the water and Alex instinctively went to help but slipped, banged his head and was washed into the sea.

Despite the best efforts of his Fiancée and Sunderland RNLI, Alex drowned with his body being recovered from the water by the Coastguard the following day.

Gerard Bolland, community safety officer with Troon Lifeboat, said: “Not all callouts to dogs end up with such positive results.

“And it’s always a sad time when an owner loses their dog.

“By following a few simple steps dog owners can help reduce the number of these types of incidents.

“And keep themselves from further danger.

“Keep your dog on a lead when close to any cliff edges or fast flowing rivers.

“If your dog goes into the water or gets stuck in mud, don’t go in after it.

“Move to a place your dog can get to safely and call it’s name – it will probably get out unaided and if you’re worried about your dog, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

“The RNLI is a designated search and rescue asset for the Coastguard.”

Speaking to the Ayr Advertiser Series, a local dog owner, added: “My two labradors love going into the water whenever I take them for walks.

“I have always been worried about them getting caught in fast-flowing currents or their paws getting caught on weeds that grow in water and pull them down.

“My parents have always said to me never to jump in after your dog to save them because generally they will manage to get themselves free and back to safety.

“That is something that has always stayed with me when I’m out walking.

“But I think every dog owners instinct, even my own in that type of situation, would be to jump in and help their dog.”