Dog lost at sea off California surfaces alive one month on

LOS ANGELES: The US Navy was surprised this week to find a dog alive and well on an island off California a month after falling off its owner's boat.

Luna, a German shepherd with piercing blue eyes, went overboard in early February while its owner was fishing about a mile off San Clemente island, which is about 80 miles (127 kilometers) from the mainland.

Luna the dog, thought to be lost at sea, turns up on California beach: https://t.co/1GgmBGiEzw pic.twitter.com/BD5ODaznZN

— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) March 17, 2016

Its owner asked Naval Base Coronado for help in finding the dog, but it was given up for dead after a search lasting several days.

"Fast forward to yesterday," the navy said on the base's Facebook page. "Luna showed up near staff at San Clemente Island -- a little thinner but none the worse for wear."

Luna was turned over to a friend of the owner for safekeeping until he returns from a trip, it said.