Mali the miracle dog reunited with schoolgirls who spotted her on cliff-edge

Stephen Maguire

A miracle dog who survived on a Donegal island cliff-edge for two weeks living on just pools of rainwater has been reunited with the two sisters who helped find her.

Mali, a Bernese Mountain dog, ran off from her owners on Arranmore Island on August 16th last after she was spooked by high winds.

Despite a massive search by her German owners and by islanders there was no sign of the beloved pet.

However, a pleasure fishing boat in the area happened to spot the dog perched on the 200-foot cliff on Saturday night last.

A rescue mission swung into operation, which saw Mali rescued and reunited with its owner, Sara Recinos Ralda and her family on the mainland at Burtonport a couple of hours later.

It turned out that Mali's lead had become snarled on the cliff, and she couldn't make it back to her owners who were searching desperately for her.

Now the two sisters who helped spot Mali on the cliff have been reunited with their new best friend.

Sisters Aoibheann and Róisín Ní Leathlobhair are pupils at Scoil an Aingil Choimhéadaí, a small gaeltacht school in Keadue, Burtonport.

It was Róisín who first thought she heard barking while she was on board the North West Charter fishing boat along with dad Padraig Lawlor on Saturday evening.

Michael Boyle, another man on the boat, also thought he heard a dog barking and when they turned off their engine, they soon spotted Mali.

As a thank you to the girls, Mali's owner Sara kindly agreed to bring the wonder dog to the girls' school earlier on Monday.

Principal of the school, Anne Marie Uí Icí, said there was huge excitement when Mali arrived.

She said "It was such a beautiful moment and all the children were delighted to see Mali.

"It's such a wonderful story and I have followed it with interest since Mali went missing on Arranmore in the middle of August.

"She's a beautiful dog, and it is such a lovely story with a happy ending, and we could certainly do with that at the moment," she said.

Mali happily posed for pictures with her new friends.

Despite losing some weight and being a little bit disorientated after her ordeal, Mali is back in great form and looking forward to her next adventure.