WightSAR Trainee Search Dog handler Catherine Fitton with Ginny, Wightlink Island Port Operations Manager Martin Gulliver and Trainee Search Dog handler Jasmine Light with Malli.
Two specialist search dogs are joining the ranks of WightSAR (Wight Search and Rescue), bolstering the team’s capabilities in locating missing persons.
Malli, a three-year-old Sprocker Spaniel, and Ginny, a seven-year-old Labrador, are the newest additions to the WightSAR team. These talented canines, trained in air-scent and ground-scent techniques, will provide invaluable assistance to volunteers in their search efforts.
WightSAR, which supports Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, has a team of seven leaders and over 20 dedicated volunteers ready to deploy in search operations. The addition of Malli and Ginny will significantly enhance their ability to locate missing individuals in various terrains.
Jasmine Light and Catherine Fitton, the handlers for Malli and Ginny, are undergoing rigorous training with the dogs. Wightlink has generously sponsored their training courses in Wales, Staffordshire, Oxford, and Kent.
Dean Terrett, chairman of WightSAR, expressed his enthusiasm for the new recruits: “The amazing noses of dogs give us a better chance of finding people, and these two talented canines will make a significant difference in our search efforts.”
Air-scent dogs are trained to follow the scent emitted by a missing person. Once they locate the individual, they return to their handler, guiding the human team to the scene. Ground search dogs utilise articles with the missing person’s scent to track their whereabouts.
Sam Woodman, Wightlink’s Partnership Marketing Manager, highlighted the importance of WightSAR’s work and the company’s commitment to supporting the team: “We all dread the thought of a loved one going missing. WightSAR’s dedication to helping people in difficult situations is truly commendable. We are delighted to support this dog training initiative.”
With the addition of Malli and Ginny, WightSAR is better equipped to respond to missing person cases and provide crucial assistance to law enforcement agencies. These talented canine recruits will undoubtedly make a lasting impact on the Isle of Wight community.
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