VIDEO: Top Dog: Bomb-Sniffer Treo Wins Animal 'VC'

Sky News

The life-saving skills of a black Labrador have earned him a top military honour.



Nine-year-old Treo's job is to sniff out roadside bombs in Afghanistan for the British Army - and he has proved rather good at it.

In August, 2008, while working as a forward detection dog in Sangin, Treo found a "daisy chain" improvised explosive device (IED) that had been carefully modified and concealed by the Taliban at the side of a path.

A month later, his actions saved another platoon from guaranteed casualties, again by finding a 'daisy chain' - made of two or more explosives wired together.
Now he has been rewarded with the Dickin Medal - the animal equivalent of a Victoria Cross - the highest accolade a military animal can expect.

Treo is now retired and enjoying life with handler Sergeant Dave Heyhoe back at 104 Military Working Dogs Support Unit, in North Luffenham, Rutland.

Sgt Heyhoe said: "Treo's work involves searching for arms and explosives out on the ground to the forefront of the troops.

"It's very important. We are part and parcel of the search element. We're not the ultimate answer but we are an aid to search.

"Another aid would be the metal detector - but Treo is a four-legged variety."Sgt Heyhoe says their relationship is now far more than a working partnership.

"Basically, me and the dog have got to understand each other and without that we can't be effective on the ground. He must know when I want him to go somewhere to search.

"Everyone will say that he is just a military working dog - yes, he is, but he is also a very good friend of mine. We look after each other."

Treo is the 63rd animal to receive the Dickin Medal - introduced by PDSA founder Maria Dickin in 1943 to honour the work of animals in war - and the 27th dog to receive the honour.

Treo the dog awarded animal VC

A heroic military dog is to be honoured with the animal version of the Victoria Cross.

Treo, an eight-year-old black Labrador, saved countless lives in Afghanistan last year by locating hidden roadside bombs.

The search dog twice saved soldiers and civilians from catastrophe while out on patrol in Helmand province by sniffing out explosives which had been wired together in a daisy chain and hidden in the path.

Princess Alexandra will award the dog with the Dickin Medal at a ceremony at the Imperial War Museum on February 24.

The medal was created by leading veterinary charity the PDSA and is recognised as the highest award an animal can receive for conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving in military conflict.

Treo will be accompanied at the ceremony by his handler, Sergeant Dave Heyhoe. The team have worked together for five years.

PDSA director general Jan McLoughlin said: "We look forward to honouring Treo with the PDSA Dickin Medal.

"The medal is recognised throughout the world as the animals' Victoria Cross and is the highest award any animal can receive for bravery in the line of duty. Treo is, without doubt, a worthy recipient."

The award was introduced by PDSA founder Maria Dickin in 1943.

Treo will be the 63rd animal to receive the medal, following in the footsteps of 26 other dogs, 32 Second World War messenger pigeons, three horses and one cat.

Dog Returns home after a year in the Afghan wilderness

An Australian Special Forces explosive detection dog has been found alive and well more than a year after she went missing in action in Afghanistan.

Black Labrador “Sabi” was recovered by a US Soldier at an isolated patrol base in Oruzgan Province, after going missing in the same September 2008 battle during which Trooper Mark Donaldson, earned his Victoria Cross.

Nine Australian soldiers, including Sabi’s handler, were wounded during the fighting.

The US soldier who recovered Sabi, who can be identified only by his first name John, was aware that Australian Special Forces were missing one of their explosive detection dogs.

He said it was immediately obvious that Sabi was no ordinary canine.

“I took the dog and gave it some commands it understood,” John said.

John said he thanked the man who was with Sabi and shook his hand.

Sabi was then flown to Tarin Kowt to be reunited with one of her Australian Special Forces trainers.

“I nudged a tennis ball to her with my foot and she took it straight away,” the trainer said.

“It’s a game we used to play over and over during her training. It’s amazing, just incredible, to have her back.”

Currently in the United Kingdom after meeting Her Majesty the Queen, Trooper Mark Donaldson, VC said Sabi’s return had closed a chapter of their shared history.

“She’s the last piece of the puzzle,” Trooper Donaldson said.

“Having Sabi back gives some closure for the handler and the rest of us that served with her in 2008. It’s a fantastic morale booster for the guys.”

At the time of her disappearance Sabi was coming to the end of her second tour of duty in Afghanistan, having previously deployed in 2007.

VIDEO: UK military dog survives 'explosive' scare - ITN

The Marine who saved the dogs of war - MailOnline

One shivering, starving mongrel changed Pen Farthing's life. As a Royal Marine, serving in Afghanistan at a remote desert outpost in Helmand Province, he was horrified by the number of abandoned dogs and by the vile, organised dog fights.

This centuries-old 'sport', which involves slicing off the ears and tails of potential fighting dogs without anaesthetic, is hugely popular among rival clans.

The owners of winning dogs earn money and prestige. As Pen, a dog owner himself when at home, writes: 'Dogs in Afghanistan were extremely far down in the welfare list … although, to be fair, human life wasn't exactly that far up it.' And so, after one appalled look, he sprang into action.

His first rescue dog was cruelly tethered with wire and had been tormented by Kalashnikov-toting Afghan police. Pen actually risked his life, making himself a conspicuous target for the lurking Taliban by scaling the compound wall, throwing the terrified, pain-racked dog a sausage laced with a tranquilliser, cutting the tether and freeing him to roam with the pack which prowled the camp perimeter.

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