Tributes have been flooding in from around the world to a famous Cornish “lifesaving” dog who has died.
Bilbo, a 14-stone (89kg) Newfoundland, patrolled the beach at Sennen with his lifeguard owner Steve Jamieson and was the face of school campaigns which taught children “essential beach safety skills”. He was also well known to many regular visitors to Cornwall dog friendly cottages.
Mr Jamieson, said he was “devastated” by loss of Bilbo. He said “My lovely boy slipped his moorings yesterday afternoon and sailed off without me. RIP Bilbo 2003-2015.”
The RNLI officially commented that Bilbo had made a “valuable contribution” to beach safety in west Cornwall and a spokesperson added “Our condolences go to Steve Jamieson on the news that his dog Bilbo has sadly passed away.”
A dog ban seven years ago sparked a public protest to get Bilbo reinstated to his beach duties, when thousands of people signed a petition to get him classified as a working dog to get around the rules and he was allowed back twice a week.
In 2009 Bilbo won “Dog of the Day” on the working dogs day at Crufts, and he also appeared on television including BBC 2’s Coast and ITV’s Richard and Judy.