A dog was reported missing off the coast of San Diego, California, two miles from San Clement Island. The one and a half year-old German shepherd was presumed to be drowned in the Pacific Ocean, after fell off a fishing boat. Surprisingly, she was found alive and healthy five weeks after!
Luna was with her owner, Nick Haworth on a commercial fishing boat when she fell overboard. On February 10, the owner reported her disappearance and after days of searching the dog was eventually presumed gone. Her owner searched the waters for about two days and Navy staff searched the island for about a week but found no sign of Luna.
“He insisted that he was 90 percent sure that she made it to shore because she was such a strong swimmer,” said Sandy DeMunnik, public affairs officer for Naval Base Coronado. “They were pulling in their (lobster) traps, and one minute Luna was there and the next minute she was gone. They looked everywhere for her. They couldn’t see her. The water was dark and she’s dark.”
However, after more than a month Luna was miraculously spotted on San Clemente Island, a Navy-owned training base 70 miles off San Diego. The AP reports this caught attention because domestic animals are not allowed on the island for environmental reasons. Crew members drove up, opened the car door and whistled, and Luna jumped in, the Tribune reports.
“They saw Luna just sitting on the side of the road wagging her tail,” DeMunnik told ABC News. “Keep in mind, there are no domesticated animals on the island, so it was a stunning sight.”
The dog is believed to have swum ashore and survived by eating mice on the island. She was examined by a wildlife biologist for the San Diego Zoo who said she was “perfectly healthy other than being a little undernourished.” Then, the biologist gave Haworth the unexpected news. “He was overwhelmed,” DeMunnik said. “He was so happy and grateful and thrilled.”
More about this incredible rescue in the video below!
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