A dog which had been washed out to sea was rescued by the Navy, following this week's wild storm.

Crew from the Royal New Zealand Navy Inshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Hawea spotted the distressed dog floating on a log in Smokehouse Bay, Great Barrier Island, yesterday.



Photo / Mike Newman

Able Seaman Combat Specialist Filipe Latu, noticed the dog, and requested its rescue from the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Anthony Norris.

A rigid-hulled inflatable boat with four crew on board was sent out to the dog. It was taken ashore, where the sailors found a friendly face who knew the dog's owners, Lieutenant Norris said.


He said it was an unusual and unexpected sight.

"There was significant debris in the water and on one large log floating in the water was this poor, helpless dog. I would hate to think how long he was there."