Mountain dog stamps its presence

[Daryl]

[From: BBC.co.uk, February 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7227969.stm]

Mountain dog stamps its presence

The face of a mountain rescue dog from Perth will be seen around the world as he features on a new set of stamps.
Merrick is one of six in the collection which also stars police, customs, assistance, sheep and guide dogs.

The eight-year-old cross-bred Labrador and his owner Lynne Warden are members of the Southern Scotland Search and Rescue Dog Association.

Merrick features on Royal Mail's 46p stamp which can be used to send basic post anywhere across the globe.

Ms Warden said: "It really is wonderful to see Merrick featured on a Royal Mail stamp.

"It is also a great boost for all the dedicated volunteers who help train and handle search and rescue dogs in Scotland and across the UK to have our work recognised in this way.

"The stamps look great and I am very proud that Merrick was chosen to represent search and rescue dogs."

The special stamp edition is the first to be entirely devoted to highly trained working dogs.

Ian McKay, from Royal Mail, said: "The search and rescue dog associations across the whole of the country do fantastic work and all the volunteers who take time to train and handle the dogs deserve great credit, but the real stars are the dogs themselves.

"Merrick is a great dog and a worthy representative of all mountain rescue dogs.

"This special stamp edition also celebrates the "secret army" of thousands of hard working dogs who make a real difference to so many people's lives.

"I hope that this issue will help raise the profile of their important work as customers see the dogs on millions of letters and parcels every day."