A Lancashire search and rescue canine is to be recognised with a particular award for saving lives following Turkey’s devastating earthquakes.
Davey is a six-year-old springer spaniel, who has been serving with the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service for almost 5 years alongside his handler and UK ISAR Canine Team Lead, Lindsay Sielski, 39.
In February, Davey launched into his first worldwide deployment to Turkey within the wake of the lethal earthquakes that killed 1000’s, the place he looked for survivors with UK International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR).
Davey searched about 40 buildings per day with the UK ISAR workforce rescuing eight individuals from the rubble in the course of the 10-day deployment, with every rescue taking between half-hour to 18 hours.
The canine workforce positioned an extra three survivors, with Davey being answerable for two.
Davey (Image: Kindred Agency)
After one arduous nine-hour search, Davey discovered a lady amongst the rubble who was efficiently rescued.
The workforce then rescued a household trapped in rubble and Davey was as soon as once more tasked with trying to find different close by survivors.
Davey grew to become fixated on a crack in a wall that joined with the neighbouring home and commenced constantly barking.
However, upon preliminary inspection, no survivors had been discovered, and the workforce was despatched to seek for survivors elsewhere.
“After seven days of searching, the situation was becoming extremely bleak, and on the eighth day, the team faced a real low point”, Lindsay mentioned.
“But then someone from the Turkish rescue team rushed over to say that where Davey had been continuously barking, they had successfully rescued someone who was unconscious from a void.
“It was just the pinnacle needed – providing a sense of light. Knowing that another person’s life had been saved was a wonderful feeling.”
Davey was surrendered to the Dogs Trust in Shoreham when he was just one, in 2018, as his energetic temperament meant he wasn’t well suited to being a pet.
Davey carrying out a rescue (Image: Kindred Agency)
The Dogs Trust team recognised his endless energy and intelligence could make him an ideal service dog candidate.
They reached out to Lindsay who began his training programme with the ISAR to become a search and rescue dog.
Lindsay said: “When we started the training, he was a little naughty at times, but it was clear he was cut out for this job.
“He was comfortable to climb onto piles of rubble immediately where many dogs feel afraid – Davey just loved it.”
Davey primarily works within the UK the place he’s deployed to explosions and assists the police with finding high-risk lacking individuals.
More lately, he was deployed to seek for survivors after the Morocco earthquake in September.
On successful the award, from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) on the BAFTA, London, Lindsay mentioned: “I’m so proud of Davey and all that he’s achieved, as well as all the other working dogs that do this vital role that helps search and rescue teams on the ground.
“Davey is a special dog – a rescue dog, who has become a rescuer.”
Shannon Walajtys, IFAW’s director of catastrophe response and danger discount mentioned: “Hearing about Davey was a type of touching tales that struck me.
“Going into catastrophe zones is a troublesome job – one thing we generally witness when deploying to seek for surviving animals.
“But Davey’s job of moving into to search out individuals, actually demonstrates that it is a state of affairs that works each methods.
“If it weren’t for Davey, these individuals could not have been present in time – I’m thrilled to see him obtain the IFAW Animal of the Year Award.”
Davey receives his award at IFAW’s prestigious Animal Action Awards occasion at present (October 17).
