Search Dogs Zak & Rusty

Sunday Rusty and I re-qualified for another 2 years as an operational team. Last night then had us deployed out of county to support a missing person search.

This year, Hampshire Search & Rescue Dogs attended 78 incidents, working tirelessly to help those in need. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible volunteers, their supportive families and friends and our fellow rescue teams who assisted us. Happy New Year.

@t_riple9 @HSARDogs Incident Response Vehicle project maybe.

She’s for sale… 32k on the clock.. full service history.. full blue light setup. £22k she’s yours.. #bargain… or we will Just give her away to someone who can commit to using her daily for life saving work!

@SgtRobSimpson In job e-learning. Outside SRT 10 years now. Not recognised if on shift...

Question for our Police Officers? What water awareness / safety training do you get? Please share as I'm really interested in knowing the bigger picture! #extremeweather #winterstorm2024 #flooding #floods #flood Pic: PA

14th July 2022 Hampshire Search & Rescue Dog Zak from Southampton for his lifetime service as a search and rescue dog. Zak, a Search and Rescue Dog from Southampton, was one of the youngest to enter active service, and throughout his exemplary 11-year career, he has found and rescued hundreds of vulnerable missing people In 2009, at just 9 weeks old, Zak began his training with the voluntary organisation Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs – one of the youngest to enter active service. Zak was trained to search for hurt and distressed missing people. With his outstanding skills, Zak was deployed to his first search just one week after completing his training with his handler and owner, Kev Saunders MBE. Here, they supported the neighbouring region in Dorset at Hengistbury Head – the first search of many covering the Hampshire and surrounding counties. With his keen senses, Zak can cover a search area in a fraction of the time that a human search party could, and his quick actions have helped rescue a wide range of high risk, vulnerable missing persons including children, people living with dementia and those with mental health complexities. With his unwavering partnership with his handler and owner, Kev Saunders, Zak has attended over 300 searches and worked tirelessly day and night in all weathers. Due to his incredible work, Zak has earned an enviable reputation among handlers training their own dogs and, as a result, has completed thousands of training hours supporting new dog-and-handler teams. Zak retired from service in 2020 after an 11-year career. He is now enjoying a well-earned rest In 2020, Zak’s owner and handler, Kev Saunders, was recognised with an MBE for his services to Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs, where he credits Zak as being integral to helping him achieve this accolade. Together, they have played an incredible role in promoting the positive contribution that animals make to human lives, making Zak a highly deserving recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit legend hero Zak crossed the rainbow bridge December 2023 only 8 weeks from his 16th birthday Your legacy will live on 🥀🐾 @hantsar @teampdsa @SearchDogZak #sarda #searchandrescuedog

Apologies for the grammar. I seriously need a new phone screen.

13 years ago tonight Zak and I had our first operational find.althou by the time this pic was taken he'd had enough of the attention. I miss him every day. #legend

A big thank you this #VolunteersWeek to @HANTSAR, @WightSAR and @HSARDogs, who provide immensely valuable support through their skilled volunteers who assist us in searches for vulnerable missing persons.

@Miles_PBH @EP42_ @ChrisJDAris @Bonegella @INTERPOL_HQ I spent some time in 2020 assisting in a role similar as an SC. Would have loved to have gone on to train. Same with LSO and the Misper part of POLSA or LPSM as some forces use but given a strong NO from reg management.

@EP42_ @ChrisJDAris @Bonegella @INTERPOL_HQ I discussed the advantages of Specials in this role for PSOS with a senior officer a wee while back, the abstraction of DVI officers has a potent detrimental domino effect on day to day operations. An on call volunteer cohort to augment the regular officers would have benefits.

When you try to get a nice pic of your boy. @SearchDogRusty

Out testing new skills and equipment today.

Another busy Sunday with @SearchDogRusty. A full on @HSARDogs training session stopped abruptly to deploy in support of @HANTSAR and @HantsPolice at a search. Many miles put on both our legs.

Over the last few days members of our team headed to The Lake District to meet with Water-Rescue, where they took part in their re qualification as Mod 3 Swiftwater & Flood Rescue Technicians. Chilly temperatures, fast flowing rivers, and boat drills. #HSARDogs #WaterRescue

Another Swiftwater & Flood Rescue Technician re-qualification weekend. Hard work but enjoyable as always.

Huge congratulations to team @OfficialDorSAR Happy to spend some of your birthday with you. Hopefully we'll spend many more years deploying together. From all the @HSARDogs team.

The team continue to fundraise in many ways, allowing our members to concentrate on deploying. We've updated our Amazon wishlist with many items. amazon.co.uk/registry/wishl…

Always by my side, ready to go. @SearchDogRusty

Lots of praise for @SearchDogRusty after a find at @HSARDogs team training last night.

@bylandseaandair Not what you need to see when like me you are trying to find the spark to stay in. Rather than recruit, try retaining !

I despair…

Team training today in the sunny New Forest.