When five-year-old Amber arrived in southern England, it was supposed to mark the beginning of her new life. Recently transported from Qatar—where she had spent years in a shelter after being rescued as a street puppy—Amber was placed with a foster family in the quiet village of Bramshaw, nestled in the New Forest. But within just 24 hours, her fresh start took a dramatic turn.
Without warning, Amber bolted from the garden and disappeared.
“She just bolted. No one saw it coming,” recalled Kelly Parker, co-founder of KS Angels Rescue, in an interview with The Guardian.
No one could have predicted what would happen next. Over the next 36 days, Amber would travel more than 100 miles, navigate woods, towns, and coastlines, swim across open water, and evade every rescue attempt—until she was finally saved at sea, clinging to the side of a ferry.
63 Sightings, Endless Miles, and a “Wild Mindset”
The rescue team quickly mobilized. Over the following weeks, Amber was spotted more than 60 times across Hampshire and Dorset. She covered as much as five or six miles between each sighting, always staying ahead of her would-be rescuers. Food stations and motion-activated cameras were deployed, but Amber, frightened and disoriented, refused to slow down.
“She had entered a wild mindset,” Parker explained in interviews with BBC. “With every well-meaning approach, she would run. You couldn’t get near her.”
Amber moved steadily southwest, unknowingly charting a path toward the coast. As week four came and went, sightings stopped completely. Many feared the worst. But Amber wasn’t gone—she had simply taken her journey to the next level.
From the Forest to the Sea
Unbeknownst to anyone, Amber had made her way to the southern coast, ending up in Sandbanks near Poole. From there, she did something extraordinary—she swam nearly a mile across open water to Brownsea Island.
One of the island’s few residents began noticing the unfamiliar dog and quietly left food out for her each night. For four days, Amber survived in the wild again, this time surrounded by sea.
But when activity increased on the island—possibly due to the search party—Amber grew anxious. She tried to swim back.
A Ferry Crew’s Heroic Rescue
Crew members aboard a passing ferry in Poole Harbour noticed what they initially believed was a seal struggling in the water. As they got closer, they realized it was a dog—fighting the tide and clinging to life.
“She swam up to the boat and hooked her paws over the ladder,” said co-founder Sam Collins. “One of the crew had to jump in and push her from behind because she wouldn’t let go. She was holding on so tightly.”
Amber was pulled aboard and brought ashore, finally ending her incredible 36-day ordeal.
Underweight but Alive—and on Her Way Home
Once ashore, Amber was rushed to a veterinarian. She was visibly thinner and had lost a lot of weight, but miraculously, there were no major injuries or long-term health concerns.
Her foster family, who had spent weeks fearing the worst, welcomed her back with open arms and a soft bed. She was given regular meals, plenty of rest, and most importantly—a safe space to simply be.
“I’ve never known a dog that travels that many miles and survives,” she told the BBC. “We’re just so relieved to have her back.”
A New Chapter Begins
Amber’s story came full circle in the most heartwarming way. The woman who had quietly fed her on Brownsea Island—expecting nothing in return—reached out to adopt her. After thoughtful discussions with the rescue team, the match felt right.
The dog who once ran from every helping hand, who crossed forests and swam through sea currents to survive, was finally ready to settle down.
“After everything Amber’s been through, she deserves peace and love—and now she has both,” said Parker.
Today, Amber lives just a short distance from where she was rescued. Her life is now filled with gentle walks, cozy naps, and the quiet companionship she longed for—far from the uncertainty of her days on the run.
