Murphy goes from homeless puppy to potential rescue dog

[Daryl]

Murphy goes from homeless puppy to potential rescue dog retrieved from http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/09/19/murphy-goes-from-homeless-puppy-to-potential-rescue-dog-91466-24727714/

A FORMERLY homeless border collie is being transformed into a lifesaving search and rescue expert.

Murphy the puppy, who was rescued from the pound by South Wales pet rescue charity Four Paws, is currently training to be one of the clever canines serving with the Search and Rescue Dogs Association (Sarda).

It is a huge turnaround for the pooch, who has been adopted by Sarda volunteer Chris Daw, 26, from Pontprennau, Cardiff.

After four years of volunteering as a body for Sarda’s dogs to sniff out in training, Chris chose Murphy to be the first search and rescue dog he has personally trained.

The majority of new Sarda dogs are the offspring of experienced search dogs or come from breeders, but Chris said Murphy was adjusting well to his training in spite of his background and had the potential to do just as well as other recruits.

He said: “It’s very much slow and steady progress at this stage.

“A lot of time is spent doing the same exercises and making it a bit of a game.

“At the moment we’re doing exercises for up to five or 10 minutes at a time but it’s about building it up.

“With two years’ training, we will be quite happy to be out looking for people for four to five hours at a time.”

Sarda South Wales is a charitable organisation that helps police to track down missing people in the region.

“The dogs are trained to find any sources of human scent,” said Chris.

“Historically it’s been very connected to mountain rescue, but actually we do search jobs anywhere, from lowlands to hills and country parks, if a child has gone and wandered off for example.”

For more details about Sarda, visit http://www.sardasouthwales.org.uk