'Exceptional' search dog dies months after retirement

An "exceptional" fire service dog that had supported major search and rescue operations has died a few months after retiring.

Davey joined Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) in 2017 after being rehomed from the Dogs Trust and trained to become a "highly skilled" urban search and rescue dog.

Nine years of service included helping to locate survivors following earthquakes in Turkey, Morocco and Venezuela, where he was part of a team that searched 500 buildings.

Davey had been unwell for the past two weeks and, despite receiving specialist veterinary care and undergoing a number of tests, the cause of his illness could not be established, LFRS said.

The fire service added that Davey would be "deeply missed" by his handler Lindsay Sielski and her family and "everyone at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service who had the privilege of knowing and working with him".

Davey "became a much-loved ambassador" for the Dogs Trust charity and LFRS through school visits, community events and demonstrations.

What had started as a second chance for a rescue dog "became an extraordinary career spanning more than nine years", LFRS said.

Working alongside rescue teams from around the world, Davey supported humanitarian efforts "in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable" and represented the UK in Switzerland during the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group external reclassification, where teams are assessed every five years to make sure they continue to meet the required level.

The global network sets internationally recognised standards for search and rescue teams that deploy to major disasters such as earthquakes and building collapses.

The UK canine team was recognised for its high standards in international search dog operations.

Davey has been named the International Fund for Animal Welfare International Search and Rescue Dog of the Year and was recognised at Crufts for his achievements as a working search dog.

But behind all of those achievements, deployments and accolades, Davey was also a "much-loved" family member, LFRS said.

Chief fire officer, Jon Charters, said: "We will always be incredibly proud of him and grateful for his extraordinary service."

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