Coastguards are advising pet owners to keep their dogs on a lead near cliffs following two dog rescues over the weekend.

On Friday evening a one-year-old schnauzer went over the cliff near to Porthgain. The mischievous mutt had chased some sheep over the cliff edge shortly before 6.45pm, plunging over 50 foot. It had managed to scramble some way up the cliff but had then become stuck.

Coastguards from Fishguard and St Davids, as well as the Preseli sector manager, rescued the plucky pup who was reunited, uninjured with his relieved owners from Hayscastle.

The following morning Broad Haven coastguards and Little Haven inshore lifeboat were involved in the rescue of a black Labrador which had fallen over the cliffs near Little Haven. Members of the public were putting themselves at risk by trying to scramble down to retrieve it.

Coastguards managed to persuade them to leave the rescue to the professionals and the lucky Lab was picked up by the inshore lifeboat. Lifeboat crew returned the dog to its owners, on holiday from Compton Martin, who were waiting on the beach.

“”People should keep their dogs on leads on the coast path,” said a coastguard spokesman.

“It takes a minimum of seven people at least an hour to carry out a cliff rescue. This means they are not available for other incidents. It ties up a lot of resources.”