A DOG is recovering after surviving a fall of more than 100ft onto rocks.

Sophie the collie was being walked on the coastal path near Southwell Business Park on Portland when she apparently bolted and disappeared over the edge.

Her owner thought the worst but Sophie survived the huge drop and was plucked to safety by a coastguard cliff team.

Sophie’s owner, a Portland woman, now faces an anxious wait while her dog undergoes treatment at a local veterinary surgery.

It is understood Sophie suffered a cracked jaw as well as internal injuries.

The rescue on Thursday evening has prompted a warning from coastguards about the dangers of walking dogs near cliff edges.

Portland Coastguard was alerted to Sophie’s plight when a worker at Southwell Business Park heard the dog’s distressed owner cry for help.

Sophie had apparently ‘bolted’ from her owner, possibly to pursue a rabbit towards the edge of the cliff, and fell a total of 110ft onto rocks.

A Portland Coastguard spokesman said: “I understand the owner of the dog didn’t have a phone with her and shouted through the fence to someone working at the business park.

“He then relayed what had happened to the coastguard. He didn’t see what happened, he just made the call.”

Portland Bill coastguard rescue officers were sent to the scene and a team was sent down on ropes with an animal harness.

The spokesman said: “The coastguards located the dog at the foot of the cliff and recovered Sophie to the top where she was reunited with her owners who took her to a vet for checks and treatment.”

The owner said: “Sophie was so, so lucky. I’d like to thank the coastguard for what they did.”

But the owner is still unsure whether Sophie will make a complete recovery and was last night waiting for news from the vets.

Coastguards urge dog owners to keep their pets safe on cliff walks by ensuring that they stay on a lead.

In the UK last year alone there were 227 coastal accidents involving dogs.

Weymouth Sector Manager for Portland Coastguard Rob Sansom said: “While I’m not sure what happened in this case I would say generally that if dogs do want to chase something they tend to lose any common sense they’ve got.”