Fire service to recruit dog

1:41am Wednesday 13th February 2008

Firefighters in the district will soon be able to call on a rescue dog to sniff out people trapped in collapsed buildings.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will be recruiting a dog to form part of an elite canine squad.

The dog, which will be either a collie or springer spaniel, will be based with the Urban Search and Rescue Team and will follow in the heroic paw-prints of the dogs that went to serach for survivors of the Pakistan earthquake.

The dog will receive specialist training for 18 months to two years to develop its acute sniffing skills before being ready for service, and it will be kitted out with protective boots and jackets.

West Yorkshire Chief Fire Officer Phil Toase said: "These dogs give emergency crews the best possible chance to find survivors in collapsed buildings, as demonstrated in other parts of the world.

"I am sure the dog will be of great value to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and we look forward to opening the recruitment process."