2 specialist search dogs are joining the team at WightSAR, giving the volunteers extra support to find missing people.
WightSAR supports Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary when a vulnerable person goes missing. 7 team leaders and more than 20 volunteers can be quickly deployed to help find the missing person.
The new 4-legged recruits are Malli, a 3-year-old ‘sprocker’ spaniel who is an air-scent dog, and 7-year-old Ginny, a ground scent labrador; both are now going through their training with handlers Jasmine Light and Catherine Fitton.
Ferry operator Wightlink is supporting their training on the mainland, which has seen the dogs and their handlers travel to Wales, Staffordshire, Oxford and Kent. The 2-year training programme is supported by the National Search Dog Association, with the ferry company’s sponsorship of WightSAR helping with travel costs for the dogs and their handlers.
In addition, Wightlink has supported volunteers Alistair Bridle and Christopher Filipe to undertake advanced training at a National Team Leader course in Worcestershire.
WightSAR chairman Dean Terrett says Malli and Ginny would help them be more effective:
“There is only so much a human can do. The amazing noses of dogs give us a better chance of finding people and this will make such a difference.”
Sam Woodman, Wightlink’s Partnership Marketing Manager, says:
“We are delighted to support this dog training initiative.”
