National Search And Rescue Dog Association
Reg. Charity No. 1069110 |
|
MENU |
|
What is NSARDA |
|
NEWS |
|
SPONSORS |
Best Viewed at 1024x768 |
Like most working dogs a mountain rescue search dog is trained to increase the efficiency of its handler. The agility and acute sensing ability of the dog helps a mountaineer who to trained in search techniques to be much more effective. Bonnie is a three year old German Shepherd Dog who passed first assessment as a search dog In February 1997
 |
|
Bonnie, ready for the hills |
On 30th December at 7pm a cellphone call was diverted from Derbyshire Police to one of the local mountain rescue controllers Two walkers and their dog had been overtaken by darkness on Kinder Scout. They had no torch and had used their mobile phone to try and prevent a major search being mounted when their car was discovered in Edale.
As a storm was forecast it was decided to send a small section of the Edale Mountain Rescue team to take some torches up and escort the walkers to safety.
Five of us plus Bonnie including the team leader and one of the team's doctors set out from Grindsbrook Booth at 6pm. The Police and controllers having rung the walkers again were told they were on the edge path of the main Kinder Scout plateau at a point where a small stream falls over the crags into Grindsbrook, about 4Km from our start point and a climb of 300m.
We searched on our way towards the given location in three pairs, Bonnie and myself following about 500m behind Paul the doctor and his companion along the edge path which runs right round the plateau at an altitude of 600m.
The forecast storm had arrived by the time we reached the plateau and we were buffeted by gale force winds. The low cloud base had reduced visibility to 30m and the familiar path had turned to a trench of liquid mud. I trudged on looking after myself while the dog, apparently unconcerned by the conditions, used the wind to her advantage to search for a human scent.
Search dogs wear a "high visibility" jacket when they work. Bonnies coat has a pair of bells and a green chemical light fastened to it which appeared and disappeared in the mist as she quartered the moor to the north of the path.