Christmas came early for the team last November when we heard that against strong competition we had been chosen for an award from the Scottish and Southern Electricity Network Resilient Communities Fund. The incredibly generous grant of £10,066.00 will be used to improve the digital radio and data network coverage in East Dorset.  The Team are extremely grateful for this significant award that will improve our ability to communicate across rural areas and the resilience of our response to emergency events.

 

Dorset Search Dogs were among a number of local charities who benefitted from the 2017 round of grant funding. Lisa Doogan, Director of Customer Relationship Management for SSEN said:

 

“I’m delighted to see that this latest round of applications and awards covers a broad spectrum of ways in which the SSEN Resilient Community Fund can help communities to boost their resilience. To provide the funding that enables them to equip themselves and prepare for adverse weather events including high winds, snow, lightning and flooding reflects our own message that we are always prepared and there to help our customers.

“I’m immensely proud of these organisations, and the work they do to improve the lives of those who live and work in the communities they represent.”

Media Links:

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/15921852.dorset-flood-rescue-group-dog-charity-and-parish-councils-receive-grants-from-scottish-and-southern-electric-energy-resilience-fu/

http://news.ssen.co.uk/news/all-articles/2018/february/ssens-funding-boost-for-local-communities/

 

Our fundraisers were delighted to receive a check for £200 from the Bournemouth Area Defibrillator (B.A.D) group. This generous donation came at the end of a talk from Wendy and Kath accompanied by a demonstration from  trainee search dogs Hattie and Merla.

The B.A.D group supports patients who have complex Cardiac problems, many of whom have suffered Cardiac arrests and have subsequently undergone a procedure to have a Implantable Cardiovertor Defibrillator implanted. The group also  recently raised money to purchase a defibrillator for Hengistbury Head.

 

Sunday 3rd June 2018 was a very hot day but nevertheless Sarah and Finley passed their Level 2 requalification to remain a key operational member – going out in all weathers to save life and limb!  Their performance was described as “brilliant”.

Search Dog Finley and handler Sarah undertook the hour long assessment to maintain their operational status. The very dry and hot conditions present a real challenge for detecting scent and made the task of finding people  harder for search dog Finley . But he was not deterred by this and with his expert nose and Sarah’s direction found all three people.  Throughout the search Finley’s welfare was monitored by giving him  water and rest  breaks.

Handler Sarah sent her thanks to all the team members who have volunteered their time to help  train Finley and to Steve for providing operational support and transport.

Dorset Search Dogs extend their warm thanks to Berkshire Search Dogs for hosting the event and to the Natioal Assessors and volunteer Dogs Bodies

 

Sadly last month trainee search dog Harvey died from a brain tumour. Harvey was  a very cheeky cocker spaniel who loved to train. Harvey joined the team after completing the Beginner and Intermediate course, he continued his training as a level one dog and was showing great promise. The team send their condolences to handler Nick and partner Sarah at this sad time.

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Deciding to turn her paw to something new  this summer, trainee search dog Hattie appeared in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a tearaway dog in the Toot Sweet scene.

Hattie joined the cast of The Bournemouth and Boscombe Light Opera Company  in their spectacular summer holiday production at the Bournemouth Pavilion. She appeared in 9 performances with a  pack of dogs who  dashed across the stage  alarming  Lord Scrumptious and the sweet factory workers.

Along with her best mate Fred the Pug and three other stage dogs their performance was noted in the Dorset Echo review “the appearance of real dogs was the icing on the cake for the younger members of the audience. ”

Hattie has continued  with her  search dog training.  Dorset Echo Review

 

 

Congratulations to Serena and Matt who passed the Lowland Rescue First Responder course this weekend. The course is  run by the  Lowland Rescue Medical Faculty a multi-disciplinary team of  experienced pre-hospital care practitioners. The training includes classroom sessions, skills stations, and indoor and outdoor simulation. The course, accredited by the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, equips responders to deliver high quality, evidence-based pre-hospital care from the first point of contact with Lowland Rescue teams, prior to handing over to emergency services colleagues.

 

 

 

Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSEN) Resilience Grant supports local  communities to improve their resilience. As grant recipients in 2017 we were delighted to be invited to  their parliamentary reception  to learn more about their innovative projects.  Team member Serena fed back that “it was one of those occasions where you really don’t know what to expect but are pleasantly surprised” she met key SSEN staff and learnt about technical innovations and vulnerability mapping that could be used to help Search and Rescue. Our technical guru Laurence tried out the TOUCAN fault detection thermal imaging camera and learnt about  its  potential for use in search.

As the electricity distribution owner in central and southern England and the north of Scotland SSEN recognise their responsibility to continually drive improvements in network performance and extend the reach and support they provide to customers.  They are great supporters of Lowland Rescue through  the Resilient Communities Fund and we look forward to working in collaboration with them on future projects.

 

Picture: Team members Laurence and Serena day trip to Westminster.

This Sunday  the church at Hinton Martell was full of creatures great and small including  two trainee search dogs .  The congregation of  the animal blessing service included dogs, cats, and a tortoise who all  listened intently to our presentation about search dogs. It was a lovely service giving thanks for the joy that animals bring to our lives and finished  with  the animals each  receiving a blessing from the reverend Suzie Allen.

The service has been a long established  tradition going back to  1954 when Canon Barnard pioneered this unique service and Blessing for animals at St. John the Evangelist Church, Hinton Martel.

We were delighted  to be invited as guest speakers by the charity Animals’ Voice an Educational Trust and Wildlife Rescue based in Hampshire who campaign against cruelty to animals and rescue sick and injured animals from the New Forest. We send our thanks to the Chairman Mrs Betty Price  and the Congregation for the generous donation  made to Dorset Search Dogs.

Click to read more about the Animals’ Voice Charity HERE