Coppull dog rescue group to pull people from lake

10:56am Wednesday 9th July 2008

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Fundraisers will be putting their lives in the paws of a dog at a charity rescue event next weekend.

Volunteers will be thrown into a lake near Bury, on Saturday, July 19, before being ‘rescued’ by Newfoundland dogs from the Coppull-run Lancashire Rescue Bears group.

The dogs, which can grow to more than a metre tall and weigh nearly 12 stone, have received specialist training since April.

During the charity rescue, they will swim out to the 'victims' before dragging them back to the safety of the shore at Elton Sailing Club.

The group has attracted 30 members from across Lancashire, since it was established in March by Les and Jude Moulsdale and their friends Chris and Jackie Graham, who are all from Coppull, Les, 44, and Jude, 35, hope to raise more than £1,500 for the British Heart Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Care, and they say they have been amazed by the response.

Jude said: “It has grown so fast that we can’t believe how successful it has been. We have about 30 members. It is something a bit different but we train to do this every weekend.”

She said the dogs are natural swimmers and because of their size are incredibly strong.

Jude, who works in animal welfare, said many of the participating Newfoundlands had to be rescued themselves from unwanted homes.

The breed originates in Canada where they helped fishermen drag their catch from the sea and gained a reputation for rescuing sailors and ship passengers, but many owners find they cannot cope with their size. She added: “Les works as a rescue specialist for the Fire and Rescue Service on the River Mersey, and he became aware of the dogs through that.”

The couple met at a similar training group for Newfoundlands in Manchester, and from there decided to set one up in the Chorley area.

The dogs and their owners have already received sponsorship forms but Jude and Lee are still looking for volunteers to be rescued.

Participants must be over 12 and must contact the couple before Saturday July 12 on 01257 795 830.