Dog on the lam rescued from Charlottetown harbour

A dog that had been missing for five days found herself in some deep waters in the Charlottetown harbour Thursday night before being rescued.

Susan Peters was takingseven-year-old Lyra, a ginger-coloured lab cross, to the local dog park Sunday morningwhen she let the dog off the leash and Lyratook off.

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"She started running with the dogs but then realized I wasn't there because I was behind the crowd," said Peters. "She went right, and right out of the park."

Peters saidthat's when panic set in.

Lyra belongs to Peters's son wholivesin Halifax but is currently on a trip to Californiaand had asked Peters to dog sit.

"It was like, 'Oh my god, I've been entrusted to look after this dog and she's gone,'" she said.

Found in the harbour

A friend from the dog park helpedPeters put up apost on the PEI Lost Dog Network Facebook group and a search began.

Peters said Lyra was spotted several times throughout the weekbut eluded capture until Thursday night that someone alerted her the dog was seen near the Charlottetown harbour that evening.

"We were out looking for him since Sunday," said JenniferSirois-Curtis, whose husband is a member of the Facebook group.

Looked like a seal

The couple was out sailing with some friends that evening.

"We knew the dog was in that area but had no idea the dog was in the water at all," she said.

LindaRoy, who was also on the boat, said they initially thought they had spotted some seals swimming in the water.

"I was watching it and watching it and it was like 'seals go under' and then the seal wasn't going under and then I actually think I was the one that yelled 'Oh my god, it's the dog!'" said Roy.

Water rescue

The group managed to sail up to the soaking canine and one of the sailors swam out to pullher aboard.

"The dog was just so happy to be rescued," said Roy. "She was tired."

The group was able to feed Lyra a few snacks while Peters was contacted onFacebookand eventually reunited with Lyra.

"She was just glad to get home, and she was exhausted," said Peters.

Peters tookLyra to vet for a check up but said the only damage from her time on the lam was a few cuts on her paws.

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