A family in west Donegal experienced a “miracle” after their dog, Minnie, was found on an island between Owey and Kincasslagh five days after going missing.
The Gallagher family from Owey Island presumed Minnie had drowned after she fell off a boat sailing from Cruit to Owey.
However, to their amazement, the little Jack Russell/ Bichon Frise mix was found hopping around on the rocks. She was “completely unfazed”, according to owner Bridget Gallagher.
Bridget’s father, Frank, an experienced fisherman, was sailing out to Owey in rough conditions on the fateful evening.
“Dad was going out to the island and it was terrible, terrible weather,” Bridget explained. “There was a southern wind blowing from the land and the wind was howling.
“He was being really vigilant and keeping an eye on the boat and his manoeuvres. He was so concentrated that he didn’t notice Minnie wasn’t there until he got further out to the island.
“My dad realised she wasn’t at the pier, she wasn’t waiting for him up at the quads, so he knew she wasn’t on the island and she didn’t run off. So my dad went straight back on the boat and he searched for her for hours until it got dark and he couldn’t search any more. After that, he told us, told the family and put up the post on Facebook.”
The family spread the word about Minnie’s disappearance. Frank’s past experiences with searching for friends who had gone missing at sea didn’t inspire much hope.
However, after five days, Frank got news from his cousin Donal Gallagher, who had been searching in his boat for Minnie. After calling her name, she popped her head above the rocks.
She had managed to get herself to a high spot with a pool of water to survive.
Minnie was found up high on the rocks
“Luckily, some of our friends from the community were also out looking for her by boat; they were coming around Cruit from Kincasslagh,” said Bridget. “You have to go through rocks. There’s a wee island and it was in there that she came out of the boat. Luckily, because if she had come out of the boat before that, she would have had no viable place to land.”
As soon as the good news reached the family, a full-scale rescue mission was planned. Frank’s friend Damian Doherty took on the task of climbing up to get Minnie.
Damian Doherty climbing up the rocks to rescue Minnie
The joy of finding Minnie alive was mixed with disbelief, as Bridget says the family had accepted that the chances of her surviving the water were slim.
“Dad said the day before was one of the hardest days he ever had to go through,” said Bridget. “He had to pack up her bed and her food bowl, and then the day later, he got the call that she was alive.
“It was the most intense week of my life. You feel like a fool holding onto hope, especially when it’s the sea. It honestly felt like a miracle.”
Minnie was checked over to make sure she was ok. To add another layer of disbelief, she came back with “not a bother” on her.
“She got a big rotisserie chicken as a treat,” said Bridget. “She got a big bowl of chicken and loads of cuddles.”
Minnie was happy to get home to her family
The ordeal left the family shaken and proved that nothing can be taken for granted on a boat.
“My dad is one of the best people I’ve ever seen in a boat, I would trust him with my life,” said Bridget. “We’ve been in some dodgy weather ourselves and he’s just so good at what he does and you need to be to keep people alive. If this can happen to somebody like my dad, it can happen to anyone.”
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Minnie has been with the Gallagher family for over a year and a half and they have two other dogs.
“We are like a pack, they are just as integral as the rest of us,” said Bridget. “There’s a different place in your heart and your world for your dogs. They might just be wee dogs, but you’re their whole world. We thought she had no sense, but she clearly has a lot of sense if she can survive for five days!”
