SERVICE DOG AWARD

BRITISH POLICE & SERVICE CANINE ASSOCIATION

Neil Woodmansey & Holly, Lincolnshire FRS

The outstanding team work between Neil Woodmansey and Holly has earned them both this very special award for Bravery and Dedication to Duty.

Holly has been a fully qualified urban search and rescue dog for the past 2 years and is part of the United Kingdom Fire Service Search & Rescue Dog Team.

 The team is made up of fire-fighters from individual brigades throughout the UK, who are on stand-by 365 days a year for immediate deployment.  The team has the full logistical support of the UK Fire Service for UK operations, and the Department for International Development (DIFD) for overseas disasters

Along with her handler, Holly’s primary role is Urban Search and Rescue operations (USAR) assisting emergency services both in the UK and abroad. Their daunting task is to locate live people trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings, which have been caused by explosions and natural disasters such as earthquakes.

Their secondary role is urban / rural lowland search work assisting local Fire & Rescue / Police Services within the UK for missing, lost and injured persons. 

Both handler and dog must remain fit and agile, and to be able to easily pick their way over rubble, using Holly’s highly-developed sense of smell to locate trapped casualties. Their ability to cover large distances in a short space of time is absolutely vital in these situations when time is of the essence.  Seconds may make the difference between life and death.

Working in extreme and sometimes hostile conditions, during their deployment to the Pakistan Earthquake, Neil and Holly showed bravery and dedication to duty by working tirelessly search after search after search and day after day after day, which was carried out without objection or hesitation.

 Every time that the call of duty has come for international deployments, each handler has to make some very difficult and painful decisions if working outside the Pet for Passport scheme.  The majority of natural disasters (earthquakes) happen outside this scheme, which means that taking the dog out of the country on a life-saving mission will almost certainly mean a mandatory six months of quarantine for the dog.

Placing the dog in quarantine is a heart-wrenching experience for everyone involved, and none more so than the family, where the dog is not just a “working dog” but also a much-family member. We are all very proud of Neil and Holly and the outstanding work that they carried out in Pakistan.

Photos of Hollie & Neil collecting their award at the All About Dogs Show at Brentwood UK.

All About Dogs web site & The British Police & Service Canine Association web site