They wear Velcro-strapped boots, high-visibility jackets and harnesses, and squeeze into dangerous spots where most people would not dare to follow. Meet the dog squad - a new corps of elite animals that take up to two years to train.
The government yesterday announced funding for the first national unit of urban search and rescue dogs whose nose for human scent make them vital members of the fire and rescue services, searching for survivors in collapsed buildings.
British dogs helped search the rubble left by Pakistani earthquakes and the Boscastle floods, and US dogs were used in the aftermath of 9/11. The team's creation will replace ad hoc arrangements which are often dependent on volunteers, on limited funding by individual services, and on free dog food from a leading manufacturer.
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