THE owner of a dog still missing days after falling into the water has started raising money to make changes to the jetty on Roa Island.
Daryl Archer is the owner of Bodie, who fell into the water on September 3. Despite a search operation that started soon after Bodie disappeared, there is still no sign of him.
On Saturday, floral tributes were seen left out for Bodie with one calling him a 'good dog.'
Mr Archer later met with Barrow Town councillor Paul Griffiths. On the dangers of walking a dog off a lead in the area, he said: "I don't think everybody is aware of the risks. We all like to try and let our dogs have a little run about.
"It's not necessarily always obvious to others."
About Mr Archer, Cllr Griffiths said: "Daryl takes a certain amount of responsibility for what happened. He's quite cut up about that."
He said that 'no-one' wants to stop dog owners from taking their pets to Roa or Piel Islands.
Mr Archer set up a GoFundMe campaign that he hopes will raise money for a steel gate at the bottom of the stairs away from the view of Piel Island with signs containing information on what to do in the event of an emergency, depending on council approval.
He said the changes 'should come at no cost to the council.'
As of writing, the fundraiser has already reached £790 within hours of being set up.
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Cllr Griffiths said Barrow is a 'compassionate community.'
Any money left over will go to the Barrow RNLI, the Coastguard and Bay Search and Rescue. The GoFundMe page promises that if Westmorland and Furness Council do not allow the changes on their jetty, the money will instead go to these three services.
Cllr Griffiths said he had told Mr Archer that the council may find that installing the gate and signs on their land could cause other problems.
A HM Coastguard spokesman urged owners to keep their dogs on a lead when visiting coastal areas, especially near cliff edges.
The Coastguard also recommended owners to not go after dogs if they get stuck on a ledge, in mud or swept out to sea.
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