November Assessment

Last weekend was the SARDA Wales annual assessment. Congratulations are due to Gareth and Indy who upgraded to a Mountain Search Dog Team, Biffa and Foxey who qualified as a Lowland Team and to Richard and Scout who upgraded to a Full Mountain Search Dog Team. Well done all!

Many thanks to body Richard and trainee Ester for the great shots! 

Video from a dog rescue on Snowdon last night

Llanberis MRT were called to the aid of local sheepdog Chip yesterday, here is the story!

Photos from our training weekend

Here are some doggy snaps from this weekends training session.

Find for Sally & Spin

On Wednesday this week SARDA Wales, together with NEWSAR, were called to assist in the search for a missing male from Colwyn Bay. Sally & Spin found the male during the afternoon. The male was deceased and our sympathies go to the friends and family.

Two New Trainees

Congratulations to Bob and his dog Freddie who passed their stock and obedience tests at the weekend. to become new trainees with SARDA Wales. We all wish you the best of luck.

A sad day for SARDA Wales

Over this weekend we heard the sad news that retired trailing dog Rolf has passed away. Our thoughts are with his handler Gwen and her partner Richard. Rolf made an important contribution as one of the first qualified trailing dogs in SARDA in the UK and he will be greatly missed by all. 

SARDA Wales on the television

Last night SARDA Wales featured on a program on National Parks, presented by Caroline Quentin. Caroline volunteered as a body and was found by Search Dog Skye underneath Lliwedd here in Snowdonia. You can catch it in ITV Player here: https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/caroline-quentin-s-national-parks/series-1/episode-2

Find for Sally & Spin

Well done to Sally and Spin who had a mountain find on the Glyders in the early hours of this morning.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation requested the assistance of the Search Dogs shortly after midnight to help find two walkers who were several hours overdue. The walkers had gone to ground in white out, blizzard conditions and were found taking refuge in a group shelter. The walkers had got lost, had no torch or crampons and had been out on the mountains for 7 hours over their due return time. They were cold and tired but thanks to Sally & Spin, the OVMRO team members and 22 squadron (who lifted them off the mountains) they are safe and well.

New Trainees

Over the last two training weekends we have been fortunate to welcome three new dog teams to the training list. Geraint and his black Labrador Ben passed their stock and obedience tests this weekend to start training as a trailing dog team whilst last month Esther and her Collie Izzy and Paul and his Collie Mist passed theirs to start air scenting training. Welcome on board to all.

Max Retires

From Max~

After nine years of loyal service it's time for me to call it a day. Failing health and old age have made the decision for me. This leaves me free to concentrate on P.R duties and a budding media career.

I think I've done my bit...5 finds!! (yes only 5) .... not bad for a fat Lab..

I will hand over the mantel to my overeager and sometimes rather annoying younger stepbrother Indiana Jones.

Thank you for all your support over the years ....and remember...KEEP SMILING!!!

by: Gareth Wyn Williams

Celyn retires

After 10 years and 3 months it is time for Search Dog Celyn to hang up her search jacket. Celyn and Richard first qualified back in November 2002 at novice search dog, within 24 hours they were Called Out on their first search for a missing despondent in Llangynog near to Oswestry. After four hours of searching, the search was called off when the missing man was spotted near a telephone box outside the village, so off we went home in the early hours of the morning tired but pleased that Celyn had worked really well.
Within a month of qualifying we had our first find for a despondent on Harlech beach, the Coastguard had been searching for most of the night. Within an hour of us starting the search we had found a man, and he was sent on his way to hospital. In March 2003 we passed our novice mountain assessment, a year and ½ Later we qualified at full mountain search dog. Over the years Celyn has been on many callouts all over the country and even Ireland, in this time she has had five live finds and one dead find.
One of Celyn’s last callouts was down in Machynlleth searching for missing April Jones, she spent the day searching with many other volunteers whilst giving my new Search dog Scout the day off after 4 days of searching.
Celyn has worked hard over the years and has been very faithful to me and I am proud to call her my dog, I hope she enjoys her retirement, but I know she would rather be out searching.

Find for Kev & Nop

SARDA Wales were called out at 11:15 last night to assist NWP in the search for a male who’s car had been found at the Great Orme, Kev & Nop found the missing man's body in the early hours of this morning. Thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased, 05/02/13.

Find for Antony & Moss

SARDA Wales were called out at midnight last night to assist Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team in the search for a female dementia patient. Antony & Moss found the missing woman's body in the early hours of this morning in woodland. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased.