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  1st February 2006
OUTSTANDING SUCCESS FOR THREE SEARCH AND RESCUE DOGS


Teesdale & Weardale Search & Rescue Team welcomed three new canine members to the Team this week. Misty owned by Des Toward from Cotherstone
near Barnard Castle, Holly owned by Paul Fell from Blaydon and Bracken owned by Lee Ferry from Stanley became graded search dogs following an intensive assessment last weekend in the Lake District.

In order to train a search dog the handlers who are all Teesdale & Weardale Team members and therefore volunteers and the dogs join SARDA (Search and Rescue Dog Association). This is a national body which sets very high standards for its dogs and handlers to reach before they are allowed to search alongside mountain rescue teams.

The three dogs, all around two years old have been in training with their handlers for between 12 and 18 months. This training begins with basic obedience followed by games of hide and seek. During this time all of the dogs undergo a “stock test” to ensure they would not be interested in sheep or other farm animals while out searching. The hide and seek games develop into finding a person and
then returning to the handler to indicate their success. This builds up from a 30 second game to a 1-2 hour search in all weather and at any time of the day or night. The difference between mountain rescue search dogs and other search dogs is that mountain dogs search for a human air scent where other dogs tend to track an individuals scent along the ground.

Des Toward has been involved with SARDA for many years and Misty is his third graded dog. “Everyone thinks that it would be easy to train another dog but Misty has probably been my biggest challenge, every dog is different. These are the first dogs Paul and Lee have trained and they have done tremendously well to get their dogs up to this standard in such a short length of time. My main advantage is that I know how to search with a dog where they have had to learn this skill from scratch”

Lee Ferry said “The assessment last weekend at Derwent Water in the Lake District was one of the most difficult and stressful things I have done in my life. We did six assessments over 3 days each lasting up to 1 ½ hours. Non of us slept well on the nights between the assessments”.

Paul Fell, echoing the sentiments of all three handlers, was keen to emphasise the help they had been given. “While we are out training with the dogs our families are the ones that suffer. Without their support these dogs would not be available to search for missing people. We also owe a great deal of thanks the people known
as “bodies” who come out and lie hidden on a wet moor for hours on end in order for our dogs to find them during training exercises. It can’t be much fun but they keep coming back for more”.

Dave Bartles-Smith Teesdale & Weardale Team Leader said “They have all shown tremendous dedication to get to this standard. To put it in perspective we only had 4 graded search dogs available from Teams to cover the North East from the Scottish border
to Yorkshire. Due to the efforts of Des, Lee and Paul and their dogs the Teesdale Team now has 50% of the search dogs available in the region. Search dogs have proved their worth on numerous occasions over the years and often found missing persons not only on the fells but in the semi urban areas surrounding our towns and villages. They will be a great asset not only to our Team but to all the rescue teams in the North East and beyond.

There are some photos below:

Open full sized image
Des with Misty, Lee with Bracken and Paul with Holly


Open full sized image
Lee with Bracken


Open full sized image
Lee with Bracken



Open full sized image

Des with Misty, Paul with Holly and Lee with Bracken

Des with Misty

Paul with Holly


Lee with Bracken


1st February 2006

Scott Bissett
Press Officer

Teesdale & Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team

Notes For Editor
Teesdale & Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team are affiliated to the "Mountain Rescue - England and Wales". We provide a Search and Rescue service throughout County Durham and beyond primarily for the Police but also for the other emergency services. All Team members are volunteers and we rely on monies raised by ourselves as a registered charity to run the Team. Further details regarding our latest callouts and Team information can be found on our website www.twsmrt.org.uk


Previous Releases:


24/05/21Three missing Ladies
15/04/21Search for missing teacher
30/11/20Missing woman found!
18/08/20Cauldron snout incident
05/06/20Search Dogs to the Rescue
26/07/19Team Rescue dog from high fell
26/12/18Boxing day callout.
04/05/18Early morning Dog rescue
28/02/18Busy snow day for Mountain Rescue Team
15/12/17Team unveil new vehicle
05/12/17Missing teenager found!
03/12/17Team donates vehicle!
28/11/17Two Casualties Found at Same Time in Same Village
27/09/17NOW RECRUITING !
26/09/17Extensive multi agency search in Durham
31/07/17Barnard Castle street collection
20/07/17Extensive Search in Peter Lee Area
17/04/17Mountain rescue teams save army cadets from night on the moors.
10/04/17Reported Missing
10/12/16Base Open Day
15/10/16New Mountain Rescue Center Opens
27/09/16Missing Grouse Beater Sparks Major Search
18/09/16Mountain Rescue Exercise Turns Into Real Thing
28/12/15BUSY CHRISTMAS PERIOD FOR LOCAL MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
13/12/15RESCUE TEAM ASSIST NORTH EAST AMBULANCE SERVICE
22/07/15MOUNTAIN RESCUE CASUALTY SAYS THANK YOU
18/07/15SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING FERRYHILL MAN
21/06/15MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM ASSIST WITH INJURED MOUNTAIN BIKER
17/01/15THIRD DAY OF SEARCH FOR RESCUE TEAM
22/08/14RESCUE TEAM ASSIST AMBULANCE SERVICE
10/08/14RESCUE DOG NEVER OFF DUTY
06/08/14NEW VEHICLE FOR RESCUE TEAM
31/07/14RESCUE TEAM TREAT INJURED WALKER
17/07/14FAREWELL TO FOUNDER MEMBER OF RESCUE TEAM
02/07/14RESCUE IN WEARDALE INVOLVING ALL EMERGENCY SERVICES
26/06/14STUDENTS SUPPORT RESCUE TEAM IN MEMORY OF LUKE PEARCE
12/05/14RESCUE TEAM SEARCH FOR MISSING STUDENT
30/04/14RESCUE TEAM FIND CASUALTY IN RECORD TIME
10/03/14RESCUE TEAM INVOLVED IN MISSING DEPUTY HEAD SEARCH
09/02/14MISSING MAN FOUND BY RESCUE TEAM
02/01/14BUSY 2013 FOR RESCUE TEAM
08/12/13RESCUE TEAMS FIND BODY OF MISSING STOCKTON MAN
30/11/13 RESCUE TEAM CONTINUE SEARCH FOR MISSING STUDENT
01/11/13MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM SEARCH FOR MISSING STUDENT
18/09/13MOUNTAIN RESCUE GREAT NORTH STRETCHER CARRY
14/09/13MOUNTAIN RESCUE INVOLVED IN DRAMATIC RIVER RESCUE
07/07/13SEARCH FOR MISSING PETERLEE MAN
24/03/13BAD WEATHER KEEPS RESCUE TEAM BUSY
24/02/13RESCUE TEAMS IN 16 HOUR SEARCH
27/01/13SEARCH FOR MISSING KITE SKIER IN PENNINES
02/01/13BUSY 2013 FOR RESCUE TEAM
27/12/12MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM SEEKING RECRUITS
11/12/12RESCUE TEAMS HELP WITH DOG RESCUE
27/11/12ALL CHANGE IN LOCAL MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
11/11/12MAJOR SEARCH AND RESCUE IN PENNINES
27/10/12RESCUE TEAM FIND MISSING MAN
28/06/12RESCUE TEAM INVOLVED IN COUNTY DURHAM FLOODS
21/06/12RESCUE TEAM RECEIVE QUEENS JUBILEE MEDALS
22/05/12SCOUT GROUP HELP OUT RESCUE TEAM
29/04/12RESCUE TEAM INVOLVED IN SEARCH FOR MISSING BOY
04/03/12MAN FOUND AFTER OVERNIGHT SEARCH BY RESCUE TEAM
26/02/12RESCUE TEAM TREAT INJURED MOUNTAIN BIKER
19/01/12TOP AWARD FOR NEW RESCUE TEAM SEARCH DOG
11/01/12JOLLY LARGE DONATION TO MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
08/01/12WALKERS LOST OVERNIGHT ON PENNINES
16/12/11AWARD FOR LOCAL MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM LEADER
13/12/11MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM LEADER THANKS GENEROUS PUBLIC
04/12/11Donation Buys Defibrillator for Rescue Team
03/12/11RIVER SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING MAN
30/11/11RESCUE TEAM SEARCH RIVER FOR MISSING MAN
21/11/11RESCUE TEAM IN SEARCH FOR MISSING MAN
02/05/11TWO NEW SEARCH DOGS FOR RESCUE TEAM
13/02/11RESCUE TEAM FINDS MISSING WALKER
13/02/11THIRD SUCCESSFUL FIND FOR RESCUE TEAM IN ONE WEEK
04/02/11RESCUE TEAM FINDS MAN AFTER 40 HOURS
19/01/11MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM SEEKS NEW MEMBERS
08/12/10MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM MEMBER RECEIVES BRAVERY AWARD
02/12/10RESCUE TEAM HELP OUT DISTRICT NURSES
23/11/10NEW TEAM LEADER FOR RESCUE TEAM
01/10/10BUSY WEEK FOR LOCAL RESCUE TEAM
28/08/10RESCUE TEAM HELP WITH ALAN HINKES CHALLENGE
14/07/10RESCUE TEAM SEARCH FOR MISSING MAN
28/06/10BIG LOTTERY AWARD FOR MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
23/06/10North East Search & Rescue Team Cannon Ball Run
03/06/10North East Search & Rescue Team Helps after Cumbria Shooting
27/03/10Major Search Finds Missing Walkers
28/01/10Rescue Team Find Missing Man
25/01/10Countryfiles Matt Baker Helps Out Rescue Team
21/01/10Countryfiles Matt Baker Helps Out Rescue Team
13/01/10Major Search For Missing Fisherman
10/01/10Mountain Rescue Team Working For Last 5 Days
10/01/10Mountain Rescue Team Take Food To Animal Sanctuary
31/12/09Callouts Continue For Local Mountain Rescue Team
30/12/09Busy Day For Mountain Rescue Team
20/12/09Mountain Rescue Team Assist in Bad Weather
29/11/09Local Mountain Rescue Team Meet Prince Charles
20/11/09Local Mountain Rescue Team Help During Cumbrian Floods
10/11/09Mountain Rescue Team Receives Cash Donation
18/10/09No Sign of Missing Ferryhill Man
17/10/09Major Search For Missing Man
27/05/09Local Walking Group to the Rescue
26/03/09NE Rescue Teams Join York Search
25/01/09Missing Man Found Following Search
20/01/09Fell walker airlifted to safety
18/01/09Major Donation To Mountain Rescue Team
19/12/08Major Search for missing man
19/12/08Missing man found
30/09/08Rescue team find missing woman
24/08/08RESCUE TEAM 40TH ANNIVERSARY A SUCCESS
17/08/08RESCUE TEAM CELEBRATE 40TH ANNIVERSARY
24/06/08WOMEN WALKER RESCUED AFTER FALL
08/05/08Busy night for Rescue Team
30/04/08MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM RECOVER INJURED WALKER
29/03/08INJURED WALKER RECOVERED FROM FELL
28/03/08MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM FILM FOR BBC PROGRAMME
23/03/08Rescue from Gibson Cave
03/02/08MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS CONTINUE SEARCH FOR MISSING MAN
01/02/08MOUNTAIN RESCUE INVOLVED IN MAJOR SEARCH & RESCUE ON A66
31/01/08Search for missing man
16/06/07Major Search for Missing Soldier
25/03/07Sea & Mud Challenge to Help Local Charities
11/02/07Baby Rescued From Snow By Rescue Team
29/01/07Search Dog Success
20/01/07Rescue Team Needs Rescuers
20/11/06Team have first winter snows whilst on exercise in High Pennine
07/11/06Elderly man found after extensive search
15/10/06Body found after major search
25/08/06Dog rescued from lead mine shaft
13/08/06Search for missing 75 year old
30/07/06Unusual Rescue for Search and Rescue Team
28/07/06Visit by Icelandic Search and Rescue Youth Team July 2006
22/07/06Search for missing 33 year old
25/03/06Sea & Mud Challenge
25/03/06Major search continue for missing Gentleman
19/03/06Cub Scout Leader Injured on Walk
01/02/06Outstanding success for three Search and Rescue Dogs
10/01/06Rescue Team appeal for new recruits
03/11/05Ian Findlay retires from TWSRT after 32 years

Routine press enquiries can be sent to publicity while urgent media enquiries can be sent here.

Some recent articles in the press can also be found here. Articles linked to callouts are linked directly from the callout page.

We are in the process of putting all our historical press articles online here. If you have any new articles which we have missed please let us know.

 

SEARCH AND RESCUE THROUGHOUT COUNTY DURHAM

CHARITY REG NO: 508877