BUXTON MOUNTAIN Rescue Team has welcomed a new member – Cap the Search and Rescue Dog.
The two-year-old Border Collie sailed through the stringent qualification process in just two years before being given the final seal of approval at the Search and Rescue Dog Association final assessments earlier this month. It can take up to four years to train a SARDA dog.
Handler Malcolm Bowyer, of Buxworth, has been a member of the Buxton team for 30 years and a SARDA handler, instructor and assessor for 20 years.
He said: "The latest assessment involved searching five areas of difficult terrain, with each area having to be completed within two hours.
"This is assessed by both internal and external assessors to ensure a national standard.
"Cap completed these stringent tests in fine style in extremely harsh weather conditions bringing praise and plaudits from all the assessors.
"The completion of this assessment following two years of hard training means that Cap is now on the active call-out list and can be called to assist in searches for missing and injured persons for years to come."