A dog has been saved from Irvine harbour this week after the Coastguard Rescue Team rushed to the scene.

The coastguard was called out shortly after 5pm on Monday to reports of a dog stuck in the harbour at Irvine and unable to get out.

The team was tasked and responded immediately due to the risk of members of the public potentially putting themselves in danger trying to rescue it and were quickly on scene at the harbour side.

The dog was quickly located trapped underneath the harbour and it quickly became obvious the dog had been in the water for sometime and was nearing the point of exhaustion.

A spokesman for the Coastguard continued: “The team deployed a water rescue operator – armed with doggy biscuits kindly provided by a member of the public – into the harbour with other team members providing safety cover and a floating line ready to attach to the dog which appeared to wearing a harness.

“The water rescue operator cautiously approached the frightened pup who was more than happy to be rescued, with a floating line being attached to its harness and carefully recovered to the quayside a short distance away.

“Once safely on dry land, the pup was wrapped up in a dog blanket kindly donated by another concerned member of the public and slowly showed signs of improvement and very quickly turned into a lively little bundle of fun.

“The team contacted Irvine Police Office who had space in their kennels and also a chip scanner with the SSPCA also being contacted.

“The dog was then conveyed to Irvine Police Office while enjoying the heating in our new L200 Coastguard Rescue Vehicle and left in the care of the Police and the SSPCA.

“This was a successful and well rehearsed rescue operation albeit the casualty was a bit smaller and furrier than we are used to.”