I read today that the Fire Authority for Lancashire Fire & Rescue (made up of local councillors) are considering refusing to come out for any calls that involve rescuing pet animals, as it has become too much of a financial burden. They seem to think the task can be left to the RSPCA, who, as they point out, don’t always have the necessary specialist equipment. What will the impact be? Not just more animals going unrescued and potentially losing their lives, but their owners as well – because if they can’t turn to anyone else, they will try to effect a rescue themselves, without any emergency equipment.

How can I say this? Because of what we see happening along the Blackpool Coastline. Earlier in July, we saw yet another tragic case of a man losing his life whilst trying to rescue his pet dog from rough seas.

As Mark Clark of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency said in the light of the loss of life: “The surf-line is so dangerous in Blackpool. There is a strong undertow. It’s not a coastline to be messed with. A lot of our rescue teams get turned out to save animals, and the reason is because we know owners will often attempt the rescue themselves, and risk killing themselves. People think of pets as part of their family. We recognise this point of view, so if he had rung us to tell us his dogs had run into the sea we would have turned out the coastguard to go get them.

According to the Gazette, more than a dozen people have lost their lives in the section round Gynn Square over the last 20 years.

I hope the Fire Authority learn the lessons from the last month, and follow the wise counsel of the coastguards.