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| Dogs trained to find water bodies | Dogs trained to find water bodies |
| (1 day later) | |
| A team of search and rescue dogs are going to be trained to find bodies submerged in water. | A team of search and rescue dogs are going to be trained to find bodies submerged in water. |
| The dogs, members of the Search and Rescue Dogs Association (Sarda Wales), will be taught techniques trainer Steve Howe picked up on a trip to the USA. | |
| Mr Howe, from Llanberis in Gwynedd, said it would extend the working life of highly-trained dogs. | Mr Howe, from Llanberis in Gwynedd, said it would extend the working life of highly-trained dogs. |
| He hopes to start training three older dogs from the team in Snowdonia in April. | He hopes to start training three older dogs from the team in Snowdonia in April. |
| Mr Howe said: "On the very first rescue I went out on with my dog, Tilly, she indicated a body in water although she had not been trained specifically to do so, and some of the other dogs have done the same. | Mr Howe said: "On the very first rescue I went out on with my dog, Tilly, she indicated a body in water although she had not been trained specifically to do so, and some of the other dogs have done the same. |
| "It was more a chance thing , but I hope that after my trip to see how they train dogs in Louisiana and Florida, we can now train dogs here to do this properly." | "It was more a chance thing , but I hope that after my trip to see how they train dogs in Louisiana and Florida, we can now train dogs here to do this properly." |
| 'Very fit' | 'Very fit' |
| Mr Howe added: "Tilly is 10 and a half now and although she is still very fit she is getting to the age when she will be slowing down. | Mr Howe added: "Tilly is 10 and a half now and although she is still very fit she is getting to the age when she will be slowing down. |
| "It seemed a waste of all her ability not to have her continue working, so the less strenuous work of searching river banks or from a boat would suit her." | "It seemed a waste of all her ability not to have her continue working, so the less strenuous work of searching river banks or from a boat would suit her." |
| Mr Howe travelled to the USA with sponsorship from the Churchill Fellowship, which backs British citizens who want to acquire knowledge overseas to benefit their community or country. | Mr Howe travelled to the USA with sponsorship from the Churchill Fellowship, which backs British citizens who want to acquire knowledge overseas to benefit their community or country. |
| He said: "I got involved in search and rescue because I work as a mountaineering instructor and I wanted to put something back. | He said: "I got involved in search and rescue because I work as a mountaineering instructor and I wanted to put something back. |
| Mr Howe said Sarda Wales was a charity and relied on fund-raising and sponsorship. | Mr Howe said Sarda Wales was a charity and relied on fund-raising and sponsorship. |