Cash to fund search and rescue dog

[Daryl]

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Cash to fund search and rescue dog

LINCOLNSHIRE Fire and Rescue is to get a share of £430,000 to help pay for a Urban Search and Rescue dog (USAR).
The elite new canine squad is joining the fire and rescue service to sniff out people trapped in collapsed buildings.

USAR will follow in the heroic and highly professional paw-prints of the dogs that went to the Pakistan earthquake, the USA's 9/11 dogs, and those used during the Boscastle Floods, in Cornwall.

Each dog - usually a collie or springer spaniel - receives specialist training for 18 months to two years to develop its acute sniffing skills before being ready for service, and is kitted out with protective boots and jackets.
The dog squad is being funded by a £430,000 investment announced last week by Fire Minister Parmjit Dhanda.

Funding for USAR dogs will also go to 14 other fire authorities including Leicestershire and West Yorkshire.

Fire Minister Parmjit Dhanda said: "These dogs are real life savers as shown by their heroic efforts in all parts of the world.

“Their skills are crucial to giving the fire service the best possible chance of finding people alive in collapsed buildings.

“With this investment, the new dog squads can be called to any part of the country whenever needed."

This is just part of the latest £16.7million grant funding from Communities and Local Government to support the specialist equipment supplied to the Fire and Rescue Service.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service will have the lead role in coordinating training and establishing a national USAR dog duty rota.