'Happy end' A hiker in New Zealand fell from a 55-meter waterfall ( 180-foot) in wild bush: rescuers evacuated the injured woman but had to leave her dog behind

 

In this photo relased by Precision Helicopters Ltd, Wayne Holmes collects Molly from the edge of a waterfall as his dog Bingo, bottom left, stands beside on the Arahura River on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Precision Helicopters Ltd via AP) The small dog is a rescue dog Bingo.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — When a hiker fell from a 55-meter (180-foot) waterfall in wild New Zealand bush, rescuers were forced to evacuate the badly hurt woman without her dog, which couldn’t be found. After strangers raised thousands of dollars for a search, border collie Molly was flown to safety by a helicopter pilot who was determined to reunite pet and owner.

In this photo released by Precision Helicopters Ltd, Molly is reunited with her owner Jessica Johnston after her rescue from a waterfall on the Arahura River on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Precision Helicopters Ltd via AP)

A week earlier, an emergency rescue helicopter found the woman with bruises and lacerations after a fall at a rocky spot at the waterfall on the South Island’s West Coast. She was airlifted on March 24 but they were forced to leave without her pet.

Molly was bedraggled and hungry when she was found Tuesday, just a few meters from the spot where the hiker had been lucky to survive.

“I contacted her in hospital and said I’d go for a look for it,” said Matt Newton, the owner-operator of Precision Helicopters New Zealand, which is based at Hokitika Gorge near the Arahura River where Molly went missing. “I went and looked for the dog several times and no avail.”

Unwilling to give up, Newton and his family launched a fundraiser to pay for more flying hours and advanced search gear. Offers of help and donations poured in, with strangers pledging more than 11,000 New Zealand dollars ($6,300) for a search.

It was enough to fund three more hours in a helicopter using thermal imaging equipment. On Tuesday, Newton took to the skies with a veterinary nurse, volunteer searchers and a dog named Bingo in a renewed search for Molly.

“We struck jackpot within about an hour,” he said. “As we made our way up the river, we could see the dog in the thermal and then we could visually see it.”

In this photo relased by Precision Helicopters Ltd, Wayne Holmes collects Molly from the edge of a waterfall as his dog Bingo, bottom left, stands beside on the Arahura River on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Precision Helicopters Ltd via AP)

There had been no sign of Molly at the waterfall when Newton previously searched the spot, he said. It wasn’t clear if the dog had also fallen from the waterfall or if she had eventually made her way to the spot where her injured owner landed.

The helicopter dropped low enough for a volunteer to disembark with the rescue dog Bingo to help coax Molly to safety and keep her calm.

Newton thought the dog had survived by eating feral animals during her week in the wilderness.

“She knew what we were up to, I think,” he said. “She behaved real well. She didn’t run away and she was pleased to be rescued.”

The dog was in “surprisingly good condition,” the pilot said. He sent word back to the helicopter base, where other volunteers waited to take turns in the search. “Instead we just had a big barbecue and all had a cuddle with Molly.”

Hours after the dog’s rescue, her owner, still battered from her fall, arrived for a tearful reunion.

“I think that’ll speed up her healing process somewhat,” Newton said. “Having your dog back, that’s for sure.”

Emotional story with a happy end: Thai Princess adopts stray dog who mourned his owner’s death for weeks lying outside a supermarket

 

This story follows the viral dog that gained attention for grieving its deceased owner outside a 7-Eleven store in Thailand.

Princess Siribha Chudabhorn of Thailand adopted the dog. (Photo Credits: Facebook)

Moo Daeng, the stray dog known for his unwavering loyalty, has found a new home in an unexpected place: a royal residence. Princess Siribha Chudabhorn of Thailand, the niece of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has officially adopted Moo Daeng, ending his months of sorrow and uncertainty. The princess, deeply moved by Moo Daeng’s story, stepped in to provide him with a forever home. The dog became popular after waiting outside a 7-Eleven in Nakhon Ratchasima province for his late owner, who tragically passed away in November 2024.

Moo Daeng’s touching loyalty has led to him being called the “Hachiko of Korat," drawing a parallel to the famous Japanese Akita who waited for nine years for his late owner’s return.

In January, Moo Daeng’s heartbreaking story went viral on social media, leading locals to offer their care and support. Employees at the 7-Eleven provided food, blankets and even stuffed toys to comfort the dog. Despite their efforts, it was evident that its grief lingered deeply.

According to The Independent, last week, Princess Siribha Chudabhorn took to her official Facebook page to share the news of his adoption and to reassure his many admirers. “To all of Moo Daeng’s fans, I want to bring you up to speed so you don’t have to worry, feel anxious or have unanswered questions after all the recent drama," she said, as reported by Khaosod English.

Princess Siribha Chudabhorn revealed that she had first learned of Moo Daeng through a video highlighting the community’s fundraising efforts for his medical care. What struck her most was not just his physical condition, but the emotional toll of losing his beloved owner. “All my dogs have experienced trauma, whether through abuse, abandonment, or injury. But in Moo Daeng’s case, it’s severe depression," she explained. She noted that he was suffering from major depressive syndrome caused by the sudden loss of a loved one – something she herself has struggled with for nearly a decade, as reported by The Independent.

According to The Independent, last week, Princess Siribha Chudabhorn took to her official Facebook page to share the news of his adoption and to reassure his many admirers. “To all of Moo Daeng’s fans, I want to bring you up to speed so you don’t have to worry, feel anxious or have unanswered questions after all the recent drama," she said, as reported by Khaosod English.

Princess Siribha Chudabhorn revealed that she had first learned of Moo Daeng through a video highlighting the community’s fundraising efforts for his medical care. What struck her most was not just his physical condition, but the emotional toll of losing his beloved owner. “All my dogs have experienced trauma, whether through abuse, abandonment, or injury. But in Moo Daeng’s case, it’s severe depression," she explained. She noted that he was suffering from major depressive syndrome caused by the sudden loss of a loved one – something she herself has struggled with for nearly a decade, as reported by The Independent.

Video: Het 'vieren' van het Yulin dog meat Festival start op 22 juni ( heftige beelden )

Heftige video

 http://itsnofestival.animalsasia.org/?ok=1     PETITIE

Stop YuLin hondenvlees festival

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 www.actasia.nl  verteld:

Elk jaar in juni, 'vieren' de inwoners van diverse Zuid-Chinese steden de komst van de zomer door het eten van hondenvlees. Het merendeel van de honden zijn zwerfdieren of gestolen huisdieren. De slagers en consumenten van hondenvlees verdedigen hun gewoonte door te zeggen dat het een traditie is. Wij vinden dat geen enkele reden - traditie of niet- de wreedheid rechtvaardigt die met het eten van hondenvlees gepaard gaat. De festivals leiden tot wereldwijde protesten en ACTAsia protesteert in China zelf
In het hol van de leeuw – ACTAsia houdt 1e persconferentie ooit in YuLin tegen hondenvlees

In de hoofdstad van de hondenvlees festivals, YuLin, is er een vijandige houding jegens dierenbeschermers. Ze worden constant door undercover politie in de gaten gehouden, alsof het terroristen zijn. Ondanks deze dreiging, en het feit dat diverse organisaties daardoor geintimideerd zijn, was onze manager in China, Isobel Zhang, ter plaatse.

 Op 19 juni 2014, twee dagen voor het festival hielden we de eerste persconferentie ooit in YuLin, tegen het eten van honden. Isobel legde aan de twintig aanwezige Chinese en internationale pers uit, hoe het welzijn van de honden ernstig geschaad wordt, want dierenwelzijn is helaas nog steeds een relatief nieuw begrip in China.

Op de persconferentie vertoonden we ons filmpje om het lijden van de honden voor het YuLin hondenvlees festival onder de aandacht te brengen. Klik hierboven om de film te bekijken, maar wees gewaarschuwd voor de schokkende beelden van wat de dieren moeten doorstaan!

Enkele positieve ontwikkelingen Dankzij alle (inter-)nationale druk, heeft het gemeentebestuur van Yulin enkele positieve besluiten genomen: 1) Honden mogen niet meer in het openbaar geslacht worden. Dit betekent dat het aanwezige publiek (jong en oud) niet meer de boodschap krijgt dat het normaal is om dieren te doden. 2) Er mogen geen levende honden meer naar YuLin vervoerd worden voorafgaand aan het festival.  ACTAsia verwelkomt dit besluit, omdat hiermee honden niet meer opeengestapeld en dagenlang vervoerd hoeven te worden. We hebben een onderzoeker naar JianYang gestuurd waar gewoonlijk het grootste aantal dieren verzameld werd om verkocht en geslacht te worden. Dit jaar was daar nauwelijks handel in honden te bekennen. 3) Het gemeentebestuur heeft zich herhaaldelijk gedistancieerd van het festival, en gezegd dat het een burgerinitiatief is. Wederom zijn we blij dat de autoriteiten er afstand van nemen. 4) Regeringsambtenaren is verboden om deel te nemen aan het festival en in het openbaar hondenvlees te eten.  We zijn verheugd dat de wereldwijde protesten tenminste tot enkele positieve ontwikkelingen geleid hebben, maar ons werk is nog lang niet voorbij.