Dogs Monthly Article

Iain and Mij are flying the flag for SARDA Wales in the December issue of Dogs Monthly magazine. Its a great article that looks at three dogs who work hard to save lives and is well worth a read over the festive period. Look out for it on newsagents stands now! Well done to Iain and Mij in gaining more valuable publicity for the cause.

Two dog finds & dogs on tour

Congratulations to Iain and Mij who had two finds on two separate searches last night a brilliant result for the trailing dog team. At the same time Gareth & Max and Skye and I were on tour giving a talk to the Conwy Beaver Scouts. 

Skye Grounded

Search dog Skye has had to be grounded for a couple of weeks after taking a slip yesterday. She had been searching a mountain area in the Llanberis Pass with me during a SARDA Wales training day when she slipped crossing some boulders, twisting and trapping her rear leg. I freed her and then fellow handlers Antony & Rich helped to get her back down the mountain. Body Kes is a vet and gave her a check over on the spot, announcing a strained cruciate ligament as being the problem. A couple of weeks rest and then gently building back upto fitness will hopefully do the trick but as you can see in the photo she is not keen on being stuck at home!

We rely entirely on your donations to help train our dogs, equip them for searches and cover pet insurance for their health and well being. If you are thinking of making a donation to charity this Christmas, perhaps instead of buying Christmas cards, then why not donate to SARDA Wales. You can do so quickly and easily here. Your money will be spent on a resource that saves lives in rural and mountainous Wales.

Posted by Rob Johnson

Good News

Phil and Flash are not heading off into retirement! Gremlins in the SARDA Wales chain of communication lead us to believe that Flash was to be retired this weekend but in fact he is having a rest over the winter before joining the spring assessment. Good news all round and apologies for the false info!

Dog Find for Antony & Moss

Antony & Moss had a find for a missing Male on Cader Idris this weekend. Tragically the man lost his life in a fall on the mountain but we hope that a swift find by the Search Dog team and local MRT will have reduced the suffering of the family by reducing the period of time worrying about the unknown. Well done to Antony & Moss and to Helen & Cluanie who also attended and our deepest respects and sympathies to the family and friends of the gentleman involved.

Fly retires

Geraint & Fly

Geraint Strello has retired his Collie "Fly" this weekend after many years of dedicated service,  hundreds of hours of training, attending countless searches and having had an impact on numerous peoples lives. She can take her place by the fire with pride and I am sure will continue to keep the young dogs in line at training weekends! Geraint continues to dedicate many hours to the Association as a Search Manager and in the training of young dogs and their handlers and Geraint is also the Chairman of SARDA Wales. Thanks Geraint & Fly.

Succesful weekend for SARDA Wales & Isle of Man

It has been a really busy weekend for SARDA Wales with our autumn assessment taking place as well as two dog all outs (including a dog find). Six dogs were up for assessment and after 3 days of mixed weather and varied areas all dogs passed which is brilliant for the whole association.

New to the call out list are Rich Beech and Scout (his second qualified dog), Andy Dunn & Max (from the Isle of Man) and Rob Johnson with Skye who all qualified as Novice Lowland Search Dogs. Cazz Duce and her dog Tess were graded at Full Lowland, Jim and Star (Isle of Man) were graded at Novice Mountain and Helen Howe with her dog Cluanie achieved Full Mountain Search Dog status. A great result for all concerned and a testimony to all of the hard work of the many people that put hours of their free time into helping train the dogs, bodying, catering at training weekends, organising equipment and kit, organising training weekends, fundraising and the many other jobs that have to go on behind the scenes.

Rob & Skye, Cazz & Tess, Andy & Max, Jim & Star and Rich & Scout

Helen and Cluanie are not shown in the photo because despite a grueling weekend of mountain assessment they left the centre at 4:00am this morning with Antony and his dog Moss for a search on Cader Idris for a missing male.

Photos from a fan of the dogs

We had the following email and photos today, and of course were happy to oblige. Thanks Jacob. 

"Dear search and rescue dogs Wales,

When I went up Snowdon your dogs were at the station in Llanberis.  When I was there I saw some of your dog including Jacob my favourite because my name is Jacob.  I've attached some photos that I took and hope you will put some of them on you website.

Yours Sincerely,
Jacob Wilkinson"

October Training Weekend

This weekend we have been in deepest, darkest South Snowdonia for our monthly training weekend. Organised by handler Richard Fallows we enjoyed a great weekends training at the foot of Cader Idris in some beautiful autumnal sunshine. We were also joined for the weekend by Radio 4 who are doing a program on us for their Open Country Program. It should be aired at the end of November and I will post more info when I know for sure.

Posted by Rob Johnson

Find on Crib Goch for Helen and Cluanie

This morning Llanberis MRT had a call out at 7:05 from two men in their 20's who were cragfast on a knife edge ridge and had the added problem of a split sole on one boot.

Helen responded to the callout and as the weather was looking bad decided to bring Cluanie to make the searching and finding quicker.

They headed across to the North Ridge from the Rock Step area of Crib Goch, with Richard also from SARDA Wales, and let Cluanie search from there. The dog headed off on the ridge and went first into  Cwm Glas and worked upwards. In strong winds, rain and very thick cloud the dog then worked up the ridge and came back and indicated her find to Helen. The boys had been able to give an approximate location but in the end they we higher than they thought and the dog saved a great deal of time in some pretty foul conditions.

All credit must be given to the guys rescued as they had survived the night, had bivi bags and a stove, and only called the team out once it was light and they thought the team would be up. One of them had a totally destroyed boot which the sole had come away from and had to be repaired. Helen and three other members of the Llanberis Team then helped the guys down safely off the mountain.

Well done to Helen, Rich & Cluanie, another great mountain find!

From the archive

With the hustle and bustle of every day life and the added fun of training our dogs and getting involved in rescues and searches its easy to lose track of time and easy to forget that the part we play is just a snapshot in an Association with a proud history. Search and Rescue Dogs were originally introduced to the UK by Hamish MacInnes in the 1960's and SARDA was established in 1965. By 1971 it had grown sufficiently to justify three separate organisations, Scotland, England and Wales.

Here is a picture of our very own Roly in the earlier days, I don't know how early and if I did it would probably be rude to say. (Roly if you ask Sue she will show you how to add comments to this Blog post at the bottom of the page!)

 

Roly has trained six search dogs over the years and always has a story to tell over a pint. One that I recently read and enjoyed was in the summer of 1980 when SARDA Wales was asked to search for a missing head on the East side of the Snowdon Gribin. The night before the search Roly had surprised a teenage boy who had broken into his home. Roly collared him and returned with him to a nearby centre for delinquent youngsters. As punishment the principal of the centre ordered the lad to join Roly on the search! 

This picture is of Neil who has also been involved with SARDA Wales for a very long time, despite still not looking old enough to have been! 

 

The photo shows Neil on the left with his dog (Wilfie?) whilst having a break on a training exercise. Theres no story to go with this one, I just thought the embarrassing old photo was too good to miss.

Another name that keeps popping up again and again in the history of SARDA Wales is that of Phil Benbow. Here is a recollection from Bob Marslen-Jones in his book Countdown to Rescue:

"Our long, unremitting battle to establish the Search and Rescue Dog Associations credibility received a tremendous boost towards the end of October 1982 when a night long search for two small children ended in success just before dawn. 

The children aged 11 and 12 got bored whilst sitting in their holiday cottage in Nant Peris, they had spent the afternoon looking at the steep sided 600 metre Llechog ridge and the challenge it presented gradually became too much for them and set they off for their walk at about 3:30pm.

By supper time they had not returned and their increasingly worried parents called the Police and  Llanberis MRT and SARDA Wales were called out at 8:15pm. Four dog teams were initially deployed, Roly, Bob, Heather Maling and Phil. They were tasked to search the immediate area. By 11:00pm additional dogs had also joined the search and the are was widened. At 3:30 am there was still no sign of the children and the coordinator decided to recall the searchers for a rest so that they could recommence the search at 7:00am. 

Phil had to be at work for 9:00am so volunteered to do another search whilst the others went home. Hugh Davies had volunteered to go with him as navigator and so they made their way to Clogwyn Station with search dog Jet. They searched towards Nant Peris and once they had reached Clogwyn Clwyd having had no joy they decided to call it a day. They had descended a gully about 15m when Phil noticed his dog had disappeared, he called and whistled but there was no response.

Realising his dog must be onto something Phil scrambled back up the gully, made a note of the wind direction and found his dog in the light of his headtorch. Jet had found the two missing children lying in a scooped out hollow, cold and frightened but otherwise well enough to tell their story to their relieved parents back at base"

Subsequently Jet was awarded the Pro Dogs Gold medal for devotion to duty and Phil and jet had to attend a swanky awards ceremony somewhere posh! (Fancy taking a Labrador somewhere with lots of people eating!)

Posted by Rob Johnson

SARDA Wales in the news

Here is a link to yesterdays article in the Guardian newspaper: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/jul/29/walking-snowdonia-dog-mountain-rescue

Can you smell the difference between two people?

Did you know that DNA tests can’t differentiate between identical twins, but that dogs can?

In SARDA Wales we have four scent discriminating trailing dogs, which search for and follow the scent trail of a specific person, using an article or swab and their capabilities never cease to amaze.
So I was fascinated to come across this article, which details a recently published research paper (see here): http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0020704 describing an experiment using Czech Republic Police dogs which have been trained to scent discriminate and identify people from swabs taken from scenes of crime. The article finds that the dogs were able to identify swabs taken from identical twins, even when the twins lived in the same house and ate the same food and the dog was presented with swabs from both twins at the same time. One dog in particular identified the correct twin every single time.
That, is pretty impressive.
Hat tip to Marginal Revolution for the article: http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2011/06/police-dogs-can-distinguish-identical-twins.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+marginalrevolution%2Ffeed+%28Marginal+Revolution%29

Sue Layland

Three Peaks Fundraiser

Pictured is Sara Littlefield whilst bodying for SARDA in the Peak Ditsrict. Sara is doing the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for SARDA Wales - good luck Sara and many thanks!

Mountain Search Dog Find

This evening SARDA Wales Mountain Search Dog Cluanie and handler Helen found a group of walkers lost on Snowdon in thick cloud and above a steep drop.
Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team had received a call for assistance from a group of three walkers who had set off up Snowdon on the Watkin Path and got lost on the South side of Y Lliwedd in steep ground and thick cloud. Five team members were tasked to head to the approximate location of the party including SARDA Wales handler Helen and her dog Cluanie. Cluanie found the party stuck on a ledge above a steep drop and returned to Helen and the rest of the team to indicate her find. She then took the team into the grateful walkers who were brought safely off the mountain by the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team.
It was pretty grim weather which meant that the helicopter was unable to fly, the missing walkers had been able to give an approximate location from their mobile phone and then Cluanie did the rest. The added speed of a Search Dog team meant that the walkers avoided hypothermia in some pretty foul conditions.

Rob Johnson
SARDA Wales Press Officer

A Trailing Dog Adventure

Trailing – An urban search.
Its dusk and we are outside the hotel the missing person has left from, the ‘point last seen’ yesterday evening. The ‘mis-per’ is not from the area, so the scent trail should be clean – no false trails to cause confusion.
I pack my rucksack giving the article I will use time to clone on to a sterile cloth, tucked up next to a hot water bottle to keep the bacteria warm and help them re-generate.
I give the dog the bag with the articles in, in the van and leave it with her for five minutes, so when I get her out, she is already working. A quick check of the group stood waiting for us and she ascertains she is not looking for them and starts hunting at the junction between the pavement and house wall, checking up and down the street.
The blue lights of the police cars blocking the ends of the roads reflect off the house windows and attract the attention of locals and passers-by.  I feel pressured but ignore the people watching and concentrate on what my dog is doing.
She is working steadily up the street to where the missing persons’ vehicle was parked, going into and out of the drive ways and lifting her head to check the foliage overhanging the garden walls. We pass the spot where the vehicle was, and continue up, nearly to the top of the street, where she turns, looks at me, grins and gives me a bark, her indication that she has found the trail. I clip her line on to her harness and off we go, left at the top but she hesitates, not sure, across the road to the other side. I am glad for the MR team members watching for traffic for me, in front and behind, but I keep the line short to be on the safe side. She checks the wall on the opposite side of the road and takes off right. I watch her working, picking up scent from any little bits of grass in drive ways, off the overhanging vegetation and even from the damp joint between walls and pavement and I marvel at how she does this, follow where someone has walked, twenty four hours ago.
We cross junction after junction, they become a blur and I am disorientated but I can see she is taking me steadily towards the location the missing person is thought to have gone. After half an hour the direction is clear and I stop her to give her a rest and a drink, amazed at my dog, who has just trailed someone through a town centre as easily as if it was a walk in the park.

Sue & Nellie June 2011

Fatal Incidents Course

Members of the team have been on a course with North Wales Police all weekend looking at dealing with fatal incidents in a Mountain Rescue context. The course was very useful and interesting and combined team members from several Rescue Teams with serving Police Officers, Coastguard, the Fire Brigade and the Coroners Office. We hope not to need the skills soon!

Helicopter Training at RAF Valley

SARDA Wales have spent this weekend at RAF Valley for our annual helicopter training. The weather yesterday was stunning and we spent the day getting the dogs used to the aircraft. First off winching harnesses were fitted and then the dogs were shown in and around a stationary Sea King with all of the engines and rotors switched off. Fun was had jumping in and out of the rear door and up and down the front steps! We then repeated the exercise with the engine on and then again with the rotors on. Next we progressed to winching the dog and handler whilst the aircraft was on the ground and repeated this with the aircraft in a hover. The dogs and handlers and SARDA bodies were all then given a flight out across the bay where Skye was happy to fall asleep as I enjoyed the views.

This morning we searched a couple of small areas with several bodies in unknown locations and Skye enjoyed herself, back in her element after yesterdays excitement! Many thanks to all involved in organising the weekend, especially Biffa and Kev who worked hard to make the weekend a brilliant success.

Succesful Call Out

SARDA Wales were called out today by North Wales Police to search for an 80 year old man who had been missing from home in the Bangor area since yesterday evening. SARDA Wales coordinated the search which involved two SARDA Wales dogs, a Police dog and the Police helicopter. The man was successfully found at around lunch time today safe and well but cold and was taken to hospital.

Gareth & Max were out searching this morning

This was the 6th call-out we have had via North Wales Police in the last 10 days.

Tuesday Night Training at Llandudno

Last nights Tuesday night training was held on the Orme at Llandudno. We had a very pleasant evening with stunning views across to Anglesey and along the North Wales Coast line. We had three dogs out to play and three bodies for them to go and find. Once each dog had searched the open area that had been set up for the night we had a play hiding bodies in some old artillery shelters underground to give the dogs a bit of problem solving. It was great watching them work out what was happening to the scent which was rising from ventilation holes and then still find the doorway and sunken steps to locate the body. A lovely evenings training and a big thanks to bodies Sara, Shelley and Ollie and to Gareth for arranging the evening.

Rob Johnson 

Donate by text

You can now donate to SARDA Wales quickly and easily by text. Give its a go its fun! Text SDOG01 £5 to 70070 to donate. (You can change the amount of course if you want to donate more, or less.)

Posted by Rob Johnson

See our bodies

The SARDA Wales bodies now have their own section on the team page of our website. Take a look and see what you make of them! More will be added over the coming weeks as more photos come in so watch this space.

Spring Training

Tuesday night training has started this month now that the evenings are light and the days warm. Over the last three weeks we have trained in Industrial Parks, sand dunes and mountain areas including a joint exercise with the Coastguard which was useful and fun for all of the dogs and handlers. Last weekend was our May training weekend and we based ourselves at Plas Y Brenin and used both woodland and mountain areas for our two days of training. I hope you enjoy the photos and don't forget there are plenty more on our gallery page that is always being updated.

Posted by Rob Johnson

Spring Assessment Weekend

It has been beautiful weather here in Wales for the SARDA Wales assessment weekend. Congratulations are due to Sue and Nellie (Trailing), Rich & Celyn (Air Scenting) and Gareth and Max (Air Scenting) who all passed their assessments. Sue and Nellie join the call out list for the first time which is very exciting whilst the others successfully regraded their dogs which is great news. As usual many thanks to all of the bodies for their help, to all of those who helped organise the weekend and to Neal for the catering. As you can see from the photo we have all worn him out!

Scottish Winter Skills 2011 - a bodies perspective

The snow has turned to ice and is quite shallow; I can't make more than a coffin like scrape, covered with blocks of snow.
Corrie an t Snechda is a sun trap today, but I'm climbing into my little fridge. Helen puts on the final block and shuts the door (the light goes out by the way)

It's actually quite cosy in the blue white light and I can contemplate life.

Scuff, scuff, scrabble, a dog arrives and the digging begins. A small hole appears in the roof and I'm showered in snow. We play a game (my hand out of the hole, rather limits my involvement with throwing the ball!)
The hole is closed and I'm snug again...... and damp. Ah, a shower of snow has melted on me and my mat so I've a wet bum. (Note to self: a proper hole with a door in front and not above is better)

Still, one dog in half an hour; four dogs; two hours, uncomfortable but ok
Second dog in; repeat of snow shower, wetter bottom. Hmmm.
Message on radio that next dog is doing another area so it'll be delayed. oh goody - gives me more time to resolve the answer to life, universe, everything.
Anyway, cold baths are invigorating.
Third dog arrives, closely followed by Chris and Bob. "Right, you can bugger off" The novice dogs were now to use the area. Shame, I'll have to get out of my hole. Can I apologise now to the Mountain dog group - I wasn't turning my back on you to be rude, I was sunning my arse.

New trainee handler

Well done to Biffa and Foxey who passed their stock and obedience test at last weekends training. Biffa works at RAF Valley on their Mountain Rescue Team and Foxey keeps him company at work!

Well done to Gareth & Indy and Roly & Shadow

At last weekends training event Gareth and Indy and Roly & Shadow passed the SARDA Wales acceptance test. They had both previously passed the stock test and so have now earned there green disks and can start search dog training. Well done all! (The photos were taken last year, the dogs have grown a bit since then!)

Posted by Rob Johnson

999 Text Service now available

999 Text Service for Emergency calls

Mobile phone reception in the Mountains can often be intermittent or non-existent. If you are involved in an incident on the hill and need to call assistance but cannot make voice calls, you may now contact the 999 emergency services using a short messaging service (SMS) text from your mobile phone.

The service was originally set up in 2009 for people who are hard of hearing or who have a speech impediment. The service has been successful in helping identify crime and enabling emergency calls to be made when otherwise contact would have been difficult or impossible for the people involved.

The service will now assist those needing emergency assistance in the hills when mobile reception is poor and there is not enough signal to make a voice call. The benefit is that a text message can be composed and sent in a single operation. You should specify 'Police-Mountain Rescue' when sending the text, and include information about your location, nature of the incident and those involved.

You will only be able to use this service if you have registered with emergency SMS first. Register now: don't wait for an emergency. To register, text the word 'register' to 999. You will get a reply - then follow the instructions you are sent. This will only take approx two minutes of your time and could save your life!

Emergency SMS Website http://www.emergencysms.org.uk/

Posted by Rob Johnson