News Updates
SARDA handler Eadaoin O'Gorman with Search dog Murphy met with members of Guileen Coast Guard last night. We'd like to thank members of the unit for their time and we very much look forward to working together in the future.A special thanks to Eadaoin O'Gorman from SARDA for her time tonight giving an overview of the great work done by SARDA. Eadaoin is a dog handler with SARDA and introduced us to "murphy" and explained how the dog was trained and handled.
We are delighted to be a part of this years parade. We hope to see you there.The next group to be added to the parade and display roster for this years National Services Day Parade 2019 are the Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland). SARDA Ireland is a voluntary 999 / 112 emergency search and rescue organization concerned with the training, assessment and deployment of Air Scenting Search and Rescue Dogs to search for missing persons and we are delighted to have them on board with us.
#NationalServicesDay #NSD19
There was a nice article written by The Clare Champion recently about one of our members Niall Devery. Niall is a busy man as member of Killaloe Coast Guard while also managing to find time to volunteer with us at SARDA. Many of our members like Niall, are members of Irish Coast Guard or Mountain Rescue Ireland teams based around the country and the experience they bring to the team is invaluable.
Well done Niall great asset keep up the good work
Good stuff Niall Devery, credit to ya bud
Well done Niall devery onwards and upwards
Niall Devery great write up
Last August Bank Holiday weekend was another busy one for the SARDA Ireland team. Handler Eadaoin O'Gorman attended Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England (MRSDE) Training Weekend in Dartmoor. On Friday August 2nd Éadaoin assisted MRSDE Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team on a call out for a high risk missing person. The missing person was eventually located by police a couple of days later. On Saturday August 3rd, Éadaoin acted as external witness for an MRSDE trailing assessment. Thank you to MRSDE and Harford Bridge Park for their hospitality over the weekend.
On Monday August 5th, handlers Éadaoin with Murphy, Louise Burgoyne with Lyla and Michael Grant Grant with Ziggy attended an open day at Waterford Garda Station. Also there were South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association, Bonmahon Coast Guard, Waterford Marine Search and Rescue, Waterford City River Rescue CRBI, Waterford City Fire Service, Waterford City Civil Defence, Order of Malta Ireland Ambulance Corps - Waterford Unit and many other emergency, search, rescue and voluntary services.
Slightly different post than usual, please share this poster, this young lady is related to members of the mountain rescue Ireland community and is missing in Malaysia.
Lord of lords rescue this child ..in the name of your Son, bring her to safety ,, give her eyes to see way of escape.
She was found, unfortunately not a alive.
Please God she's found soon ❤
If you're looking for something to do tomorrow then think about coming along to the Waterford Garda Station Open Day. We will be attending alongside our friends from An Garda Síochána, South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association, Irish Coast Guard, and many other agencies. Hope to see you there!
SARDA Ireland participated in the multi agency emergency response effort at the annual Croagh Patrick (Reek Sunday) pilgrimage. Coordinated by Mayo Mountain Rescue (MMRT), full response measures are put in place for the thousands of people who take take part in the annual pilgrimage in Co Mayo. SARDA Ireland members worked on the hillside with the South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association (SEMRA) and the other Mountain Rescue Teams. At base, SARDA Ireland and SEMRA worked with the MMRT operations team, using the SARCALL emergency response system which enables mountain rescue teams to locate incidents, record incident data and capture debriefing data. Other participants at the annual Croagh Patrick event included the Irish Air Corps, Irish Cave Rescue Organisation - ICRO, Order of Malta Ireland, @Civil Defence, An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Thanks Terry Brophy for the photo.
The summer edition of the Irish Mountain Log magazine has a great little feature on SARDA, written by our own Sheelagh O'Malley. This magazine is distributed to Mountaineering Ireland members and is also available in Eason's. The photos in this article were kindly provided by Edelle Doherty.
Great article and lovely to hear how you are all going😊
Ray Leahy
Search dogs Murphy and Ziggy were called out by Dublin-Wicklow and Glen of Imaal mountain rescue teams to assist with a missing person search in the Lough Bray area of the Wicklow mountains at 2pm on the 18th of July.
The search dogs searched the shore of the lough and surrounding mountain side until 11pm.
The search resumed early on the morning of the 19th with search dog Lyla replacing Murphy and Ziggy on the search.
All the search dogs showed a interest in a quadrant of the lough where subsequently the Garda Water Unit recovered the deceased.
Our condolences to the family and friends of the missing person.
Other units that were out searching were, Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue, Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team, and South Eastern Mountain Rescue Teams, Garda Water, Dog and Air Support Units and a unit from the Irish Defence Forces.
Condolences to the family of the missing person. What a fantastic group of people ye are 🐶🐕
deep condolence to their family , it’s amazing work yea do
Such incredible work SARDA does. . So sorry to hear of the sad outcome
Great work SARDA deepest sympathies for the family. Thinking of you also as it must be hard on this result for you also.
Well done to you all.
Yesterday Michael Grant, Eadaoin O'Gorman and Noel Culbert along with search dogs Murphy and Ziggy took part in the Killaloe Emergency Services Display. The downpours certainly tested our waterproofs in between meeting the public and catching up with other front line services at the show such as Killaloe Coast Guard Unit, An Garda Síochána, (with their Mounted Unit and Limerick based Dog Unit, Road Safety Authority Ireland and Killaloe Fire Service.
Search dog Ziggy attended the UCD Veterinary Hospital Conference last weekend as a guest of Bayer Ireland. Bayer supports the Search and Rescue Dog Association Ireland search dogs by providing them with flea, lice and tick protection with their Seresto collars.
Look out for some familiar faces throughout this series.
Kerry Climbing
Great to hear that RESCUE - River Deep Mountain High has been scheduled to show on ITV starting Friday 26th July at 8 pm
It had started previously on Virgin Media but was postponed so it's good to see now scheduled for the full series on ITV
Our own local Kerry Mountain Rescue Team took part and the first episode shows the challenging conditions the team often work in, you might even recognize a familiar face ! 😉
Rescue follows the exploits of both Ireland and the UK’s voluntary rescue services in some of the most stunning landscapes these islands have to offer. With fantastic access to Mountain Rescue teams, Marine River Rescue Units and the Coast Guard services, this series follows the brave volunteers and workers who save lives in rivers, on mountains and on the sea.
Each program encompasses stories from all of the services, where fantastic action is interspersed with personal interviews and magnificent landscape vistas, and follows the stories of the teams as they set out to rescue people in perilous situations. Rescue will provide an insight into the
vital work of these voluntary rescue teams, and will demonstrate the incredible bravery of these selfless men and women.
Our Wicklow-based search dog Rowan has been busy ever since he met Prince Charles back in May. Together with his handler Sheelagh O'Malley and their 'home team' Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue, Rowan has practised his casualty care skills, completed a helicopter training session and also responded to 3 callouts. Go Rowan!
Good job!
Well done Sheelagh O'Malley and Rowan. Brilliant work and lovely photos x
Brian Haskins, we will have to "up the anti" and have local royalty attend our training days.
Top Dog......😉
Superstar 👌
A dog's nose is truly an incredible instrument, and this nifty little video demonstrates how exactly it works. All of our air-scenting search dogs are expert sniffers!
Brut nature
Their sense of smell could be 10,000 to 100,000 times more powerful than ours, allowing them to "see" things that are invisible to humans. Here is how dogs smell... 🐶
Fabulous! Thank you very much for sharing.
Andrea Hill
Ciaran Huish
A group photo of some of the dogs & handlers after a training session in March 2018. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan.
God it was my worst hair day ever.... JJ Looked great.
Looking great everyone! Especially Lyla and Lou, of course 🙂
Well done everyone
Another callout that one of our dog teams (Eadaoin O'Gorman with search dog Murphy) was assisting with last week. Sheelagh O'Malley and search dog Rowan also responded, but they were stood down en route when the missing person was unfortunately located deceased. We wish to convey our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team
Callout 50 - 3rd July 2019 - CurtlestownAt 09:03 on Wednesday, July 3rd, Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team and Glen of Imaal Red Cross Mountain Rescue Team were tasked by An Garda Sío...
Four of our dog teams (Sheelagh O'Malley with search dog Rowan, Michael Grant with Ziggy, Eadaoin O'Gorman with Murphy and Louise Burgoyne with Lyla) assisted with this search in Bray, Co. Wicklow on Friday. Jarlath Folan and search dog Syd were also responding early in the following morning. All teams were stood down when the missing person was located safe and well on Saturday.
Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team
Callout 52 - 5th July 2019 - Bray
At 15:19 on Friday, July 5th, Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team and Glen of Imaal Red Cross Mountain Rescue Team were tasked by An Garda Síochána in a missing person search.
Mountain rescue (MR) personnel immediately began searching the area around the missing person's last known location. Meanwhile, MR search managers worked to produce a search plan for the wider area. Forty trained searchers, four search dog and handler teams, and a drone were used during the operation. Search operations were stood down for the night at 00:19 on Saturday morning.
Later on Saturday morning the teams were alerted by Gardaí that the missing person had been located safe and well.
Our thanks to Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland), the missing person's family and friends, and An Garda Síochána for their assistance. We'd also like to thank Bray Retail Park for the use of their car park as rescue base.
SARDA Ireland would like to offer our sincere condolences to SARDA Southern Scotland dog handler Bill Jennison's family and teammates. Many of our members would have met and trained with Bill over the years.It is with extremely heavy hearts that we pass on the news that our great friend and founder member Bill Jennison passed away in the early hours of this morning.
Bill committed a huge part of his life to Mountain Rescue and SARDA, training and working his own dogs to an extremely high standard then continuing to train many other dogs and handlers to be the best they could be with SARDA Southern Scotland.
Bill never gave up on anyone when the going got tough and with his gentle nature, encouragement and impeccable knowledge and understanding of dogs, saw many dogs and handlers that he had helped train as training officer reach Advanced Mountain Rescue grade.
I think we can vouch for many here when we say, the hardest part of any assessment undertaken was that you didn’t want to let Bill down!
A famous quote from Bill was “ If only it was as easy to train a handler as it was a dog”
We are extremely lucky to have had you in our lives Bill and as a friend said earlier today, we bet there were some old dogs very happy to see you this morning!
Thoughts are with Yvonne and the family at this very difficult time.
National Search and Rescue Dog Association (NSARDA) Scottish Mountain Rescue Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England Search & Rescue Dog Association (Scotland) Lomond Mountain Rescue Team
SARDA Ireland were invited to the Greystones Emergency Services Day at Éire Óg GAA club on Sunday. Great day engaging with members of the public and other agencies. Thank you to Greystones Gardaí for organising and for all the help and hospitality on the day. Also in attendance were Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team, An Garda Síochána, An Garda Síochána K9 unit, Wicklow Civil Defence, Civil Defence K9 unit, Greystones Coast Guard Unit, Rescue 116 and Greystones Community First Responders.
A few of our members (Eadaoin O'Gorman with search dog Murphy, Gerry Tobin with trainee search dog Fia and Sean Owens with trainee search dog Cody) took part in a training session with Order of Malta Ireland Ambulance Corps - Waterford Unit and Bonmahon Coast Guard unit last week – thanks a lot for the invite! We look forward to working and training with these teams in the future.A very successful training exercise tonight with our friends in both Bonmahon Coast Guard and Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland). Well done every one. It was great to see the dogs working on the search. #volunteers
Delighted to be able to share what we do at tonight’s VES evening in the An Garda Síochána HQ in Renmore with our colleagues from Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland), Order of Malta GalwayCity CivilDefence Galway lifeboat station Mayo Mountain Rescue Irish Coast Guard Galway County Council, Galway Fire Service and Galway Red Cross.
Yesterday, at the invitation of The Irish Coast Guard, some of our members attended a joint training exercise at Dunabrattin Head, Bunmahon, Co. Waterford. The exercise centered around various cliff, shoreline and water based exercises and involved coordinated responses from land, sea and air. It was a great opportunity for our members to interact with the agencies based in the area and for our dogs and handlers to further familiarize themselves with the sights and sounds of the aircraft. Thanks again for your welcome yesterday and we look forward to working with you in the future.
@IRCG @RNLI @Bunmahon Lifeboat, @Bunmahon Coast Guard, @Rescue 117, @helvickrnli @Order of Malta Ireland Ambulance Corps, @Waterford Unit Waterford City River Rescue CRBI @Ardmore Coast Guard Unit
Delighted you were able to attend yesterday, the dogs are brilliant. It’s a credit to you all, we are looking forward to working with you all again in the near future.
Great to see you all there !!! 👍
Lucy Bradley
Two of our dog teams (Michael Grant with search dog Ziggy and Sheelagh O'Malley with search dog Rowan) have been assisting An Garda Síochána in the ongoing search for a 55-year man who has been missing from Sandyford in Dublin since May 25th. The SARDA teams searched several relevant areas over the course of the weekend, but unfortunately this has not yielded a result so far.
Renewed appeal to trace man missing from Dublin
rte.ie
Gardaí have renewed their appeal for information on the whereabouts of a 55-year-old man who has been missing from his home in Sandyford since 25 May.Please share if you can, much appreciated
Shared😢
To all our friends and supporters, why not drop by tomorrow and and meet some of our team. It’s a good opportunity to find out about SARDA and meet some of our two and four legged members in person. Also say hello to our friends in other emergency services. Hope to see you there. 👍
This weekend was a busy and varied weekend for our members. We were in Templemore on Friday, Kildare on Saturday and on Monday our dog handlers Éadaoin O’Gorman, Michael Grant and Louise Burgoyne visited The Customs House at the Port of Cork at the invitation of Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery (CCMPSR).
Big thank you to Edwin, Dave and Chris from taking the time on a Bank Holiday Monday to show us what they do. Keep up the good work and stay safe. Cork City Missing Persons Search and RecoveryRecently CCMPSAR welcomed members of Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland). We began our morning with a brief on our unit followed by an introduction to our kit and capabilities. Later we invited the SARDA members out on the river to introduce them to boat operations, search techniques and our side scan sonar.
Dogs Can Sniff Out Cancer In Blood With Nearly 97% Accuracy, Study Shows
intelligentliving.co
Dogs' high sensitivity to odors enable them to pick out blood samples with cancer with almost 97 percent accuracy. You can order the test for just $50!
Today we were welcomed to The Garda Training College, Templemore to give a talk about how SARDA dog teams can assist with missing persons cases throughout Ireland. Louise, (with search dog Lyla), Gerry and Noel were joined by Liam of Mountain Rescue Ireland who gave an "Introduction to Mountain Rescue". We thank An Garda Síochána for the opportunity and we wish this class the very best as they are deployed around the country next week.
Excellent well done. Great way to influence the Mountain Rescue tasking agency.
Well done Louise and Lyla!
Fantastic. Well done Louise, Gerry and Noel!
Well done Louise
Well done
Excellent interagency com.
A little video of last weekend's training session in the Knockmealdown Mountains. Thanks Edelle Doherty!
A few pics from our training weekend in the Knockmealdown Mountains last weekend. Many thanks to training officer Michael Grant, local organiser Gerry Tobin and everyone else who assisted with the training – and all our amazing dogsbodies! Thanks also to the local landowners, and to Edelle Doherty for her camerawork. Photos by Edelle, Mike Palmer and Sheelagh O'Malley.
SARDA search dog Rowan has friends in high places! Rowan and his handler Sheelagh O'Malley met Prince Charles yesterday together with the other Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue and Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team members.Both the Glen of Imaal Red Cross Mountain Rescue Team and the Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team were delighted to meet the Prince of Wales when he visited Glendalough on the second day of his visit to Ireland. We were honoured to have our volunteer work recognised during an official state visit by His Royal Highness. During the visit, Prince Charles expressed a keen interest in the rescue work both teams perform, and was very happy to make friends with search dog Rowan.
The Prince of Wales was also shown Glen Charlie, one of the Glen Team's emergency response vehicles, which was sponsored by The Froud Foundation, a charity which was set up by a family living in the UK who tragically lost their son in a plane crash in the Wicklow mountains. They have been strong supporters of the team for many years.
Melanie O'Donoghue
We are in exalted company 😁 Looking forward to seeing the celebrities at training this weekend. Great to see dogs that people threw away into the pound becoming such heros. Well done Sheelagh for all you did for Rowan. He's repaying it tenfold.
SARDA trainee dog Piper accompanied by Dorothy Grimes and Gerry Tobin attended the annual Sea Sunday service, parade and blessing of the boats in Kinsale. The ceremony is held for all those who have been lost at sea or work at sea, and to remember all the services that are involved in sea rescues.
This little video shows search dog Rowan during a training session in Gort, Co. Galway last week. Rowan has just found Edelle (thanks for the video, Edelle Doherty), and now it's reward time! Rowan's handler is Sheelagh O'Malley.
Good Job!!!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏
It’s a dogs life for sure.
Katie Morgan
Brian Haskins 🙂
Last Saturday SARDA Ireland members (Louise Burgoyne with Search Dog Lyla, Mick Grant with Search Dog Ziggy, Éadaoin O’Gorman with Search Dog Murphy and Gerry Tobin with trainee Search Dog Fia) along with South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association (SEMRA) members took part in heli training with R117, Waterford.
Training involved HI Line operation and winching of both dogs and handlers.
Thank you to SEMRA for organizing the training. Thank you to all the crew of R117; Ronan, Tom, Adrian, Neville and Sarah. Photo credit: Éadaoin O’Gorman, Dave Murtagh, Neville Murphy and Adrian O’Hara.Last Saturday SARDA Ireland members (Louise Burgoyne with Search Dog Lyla, Mick Grant with Search Dog Ziggy, Éadaoin O’Gorman with Search Dog Murphy and Gerry Tobin with trainee Search Dog Fia) along with South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association (SEMRA) members took part in heli training with R117, Waterford.
Training involved HI Line operation and winching of both dogs and handlers.
Thank you to SEMRA for organizing the training. Thank you to all the crew of R117; Ronan, Tom, Adrian, Neville and Sarah. Photo credit: Éadaoin O’Gorman, Dave Murtagh, Neville Murphy and Adrian O’Hara.
Brilliant photos 😊
Honestly.... so friggin cool🥳🥳🥳
Jacob Raymond
Honestly.... so friggin cool🥳🥳🥳
My HEROS ,
Great photos guys
Super photos 👍
Two of our handlers, Gerry Tobin and Eadaoin O'Gorman gave a talk to trainee gardaí at the Garda College Templemore yesterday. Search dog Murphy and trainee search dog Fia assisted!
Photos by Eadaoin O'Gorman.
I have a clever collie who would love to be occupied/challenged where would I get training for him?
While on their way to our training weekend in Oughterard on Friday night, SARDA handler Michael Grant and search dog Ziggy were called out to assist Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team with a search. The dog team and other agencies were stood down a short time later when the missing person was located safe and well. Meanwhile, while most of the SARDA gang was training in Connemara over the weekend (see post + photos below), Eadaoin O'Gorman and search dog Murphy represented us at an emergency services event ('A Big Push to Save Lives') which was held at Mallow Racecourse on Saturday. Photo by Fermoy Community First Responders.
Great to see you and the amazing dogs that are specifically trained for search and rescue services. Well done to you all, it's great to see the dedicated team that make the SARDA, such a valuable service in our country.
SARDA Ireland hosted a training weekend near Oughterard, Co. Galway over Saturday and Sunday. Storm Hannah had thankfully mostly exhausted herself by then, but the dog teams still enjoyed pretty brisk winds on the hills on Saturday while Sunday was a calm and dampish day for some training in the woods. Many thanks to Jarlath Folan for sorting out the local logistics, Gerry Tobin and Michael Grant for setting up search areas, and everyone who volunteered as dogsbodies over the weekend. Extra special thanks to Edelle Doherty for these fantastic photos!
Beautiful shots of the proud dogs and their even prouder handlers....
Excellent photos Edelle
Thanks to all who helped make it a great weekend. Hopefully everyone enjoyed it and got something out of the training. Special thanks to the bodies as it was a cold day to be out on the hill and to our Paparazzi Edelle who captured the event so well.
Excellent photos Edelle
Edelle Doherty those pics are amazing !
Awesome pictures of you all working hard!
Loved being dogsbodies on Sunday! Can't wait for the next time. Thanks to everyone for being so welcoming and answering our many questions 😂
Wonderful photos. Makes me realise all the training that must be done by our Search and Rescue heroes. Thank you, folks!
SARDA dog teams were tasked by the Irish Coast Guard to assist with a missing person search in Tipperary last night. Michael Grant (with search dog Ziggy) and Eadaoin O'Gorman (with search dog Murphy) responded and were on the way to the incident while Jarlath Folan (with Syd) and Louise Burgoyne (with Lyla) were on standby. The dog teams were stood down en route when the missing person was located safe and well.
Well done to all involved
Great effort all
This week's Connacht Tribune has a piece about one of our newly qualified mountain rescue search dog teams, Jarlath Folan and Syd. Jarlath is one of our veteran handlers who was previously on the callout list for several years with his Springer Spaniel Hugo. We are delighted to now have a search dog team in this part of the country again. Jarlath is also a long-time member of Galway Mountain Rescue Team. We wish this fine pair the best of luck with all their future callouts!
Man's best friend becomes a search and rescue expert - Connacht Tribune
connachttribune.ie
The notion of ‘man’s best friend’ has never rung more true following recent success by a local volunteer and his four-legged companion in a search and rescue assessment. Jarlath Fola...Bravo Jarlath
Well done!!!
Great to see Jarlath and Syd. Jarlath has invested a lifetime of commitment to MR and is always so generous with his time. Looking forward to meeting Syd.
Fantastic! Well done Ja and Syd 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
Great to have you back on the call-out list. What a gentleman and always a pleasure to train with. Wishing you pair a long and happy working career..... Now... "Go Find!" 🐕👈👷♂️🚑
Great to hear 👍 Well done Jarlath and Syd 🐕
SARDA handler Eadaoin O'Gorman and search dog Murphy were responding to this incident on the Beara Peninsula, West Cork yesterday but were stood down en route when the missing person was located safe and well. Michael Grant and Ziggy were also on standby.
CALLOUT. Two SARDA dog teams were involved in a large-scale multi-agency search for a missing person on the grounds of Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick. The missing lady, who was in her 80s, was reported missing yesterday. One of our dog teams, Michael Grant with search dog Ziggy responded last night with South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association and continued searching until 4am. This morning another one of our dog teams, Jarlath Folan with search dog Syd joined the search. A Garda dog unit was also at the scene. The missing lady was located by Irish Search Dogs handler Glen Barton & search dog Ben at 10.30am. She was taken to hospital for assessment but is believed to be fine. A fantastic result all round, and a great example of co-ordination between the different agencies! Photos by Noel Culbert.
Garda Síochána - Cork, Kerry & Limerick - Southern Region also have a piece about the search on their page.
SARDA brilliant addition to MRT .
Sensational🎉🥳👏
Well done team
Well done
Well done
Brilliant job all
Well done to everyone involved👏👏
Brilliant..
Well done to all involved
Awesome job
Great effort all
Incredible work. Well done to all involved.
Well done !
Well done great news
Well done to all involved, with great results to follow.
Superb result all. Thank God she was found💕
Fabulous - congrats on the successful outcome. Great work done by the combined rescue agencies!
Good job! I have ancestry from Limerick....some day I hope to come see it firsthand.
Brilliant!!
Fantastic well done
Great result. Well done and thank you.🙏
Great to see them at work today. Fantastic asset to search and rescue.
Some of SARDA's handlers and search dogs took part in the Emergency Services Display in Fermoy last weekend, along with many other agencies. The event was part of the Fermoy Friendship Week 2019. South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association have some more nice photos of the event – have a look on their page.
A fantastic piece about one of our recently qualified search dog teams, Sheelagh O'Malley & Rowan. After being rescued from a pound two years ago, Rowan is now a 'rescue dog' in an entirely different sense of the word. 😄 Well done you both – we are very proud of you!
Meet Rowan - from the pound to search and rescue dog
rte.ie
A dog that was unwanted and due to be put down two years ago has become a qualified search and rescue dog.Brilliant story ❤️👍
Anne Walsh 😍
That's brilliant, Sheelagh O'Malley. 😍
Kevin Murphy
Brilliant well done
Well done both of you. Nice PR👏👍😜🐾🌈
Amazing
Very good. 👍
SARDA held assessments in Wicklow over the weekend as two of our aspiring dog teams, Jarlath Folan & Syd and Sheelagh O'Malley & Rowan, were put through their paces over a tough two days and four large mountain search areas. The happy outcome is that both passed, and we now have two newly qualified search dog teams on the callout list! Jarlath has been with SARDA for a long time, and Syd is his second qualified dog. He is also a member of Galway Mountain Rescue Team, while Sheelagh is a member of Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue, one of the busiest mountain rescue teams in Ireland. Having a qualified search dog among their numbers will undoubtedly be a great asset to both teams. Huge congratulations and well done to both handlers! Many thanks to our external assessors Harold Burrows and Roly Layland who travelled over from SARDA Wales, and to our own assessors, Gerry Tobin and Henry Smith. Also, as always, huge thanks to everyone who volunteered as dogsbodies over the weekend.
Photos by Joe Egan, Noel Culbert, Edwin O'Sullivan. Thanks!
Well done Jarlath & syd 🦊
Congrats to both teams!
Brilliant News Sheelagh !!! Delighted for you and Rowan 👌💪
Great weekend and assessment for two new handlers on the call-out list fro SARDA Ireland. Both dog and handler worked their socks off and proved what good training will achieve ..
💪💪⛰⛰ Congratulations
Huge asset to get 2 dogs qualified, well done Sheelagh O'Malley and Jarlath on your success.
A super achievement. Well done Sheelagh and Jarlath!
Brilliant. Well done
Congratulations Jarlath and Sheelagh! Well done!
Well done folks. Delighted for you both . Well done Jarlath
Congratulations and well done!!!!
Well done guys. Delighted for you both. All the work paid off. 🐕 🎖
Congratulations, a great achievement, well earned.
Congrats
Well done guys and dogs
Fantastic work and great achievement! Congratulations 🤗🐾🐶🎯
Congratulations to both of the teams.
Well done guys, great result.
Many congratulations Jarlath and Syd...and Sheelagh and Rowan
Wonderful. Well done all 4 of you.
Fairplay to everyone 👌🍺🍺🍺🍺🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕
Brilliant! Well done all round!! 👍
Congratulations to both of you and your dogs on all the hard work that goes with it.
So proud of you guys! 👌🏻🥳
A nice pic of trainee search dog Rowan (handler Sheelagh O'Malley) at training in Wicklow last weekend. Photo was taken by Pat Doyle who at this point had just been found by Rowan!
Hi Rowan. Think you know my brother Alun, one of the dogsbodies. Glad you found him !
Good boy Ziggy! And Michael Grant too of course. 😉 See our earlier post for more details about the other callouts over the last two days which SARDA responded to.Third callout in two days. Callout from Gardai at 17.00 for male walker lost in fog near top of Slievenamon. Missing walker located by search dog Ziggy and handler Mick. Missing walker and all SEMRA search parties safely off the mountain by 19.30.
It has been a very busy couple of days for SARDA. On Sunday (St. Patrick's Day) Michael Grant and search dog Ziggy were called out with South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association in the late afternoon to search for three hill-walkers lost in the Comeragh mountains. As the search teams were making their way to the area, the news came in that the walkers had found a prominent land mark and knew where they were. The search dog team made their way up to meet them and accompanied them down to the car park. This was SEMRA's 2nd callout that day as they had already rescued an injured walker on Slievenamon, Co. Tipperary a couple of hours earlier; Mick also assisted with that incident. In between those two callouts, Mick and Ziggy were also put on standby for a search in Wicklow but stood down shortly afterwards.
On Monday 18th March Michael Grant (with search dog Ziggy) and Louise Burgoyne (with search dog Lyla) were both tasked in the early afternoon to assist the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue team with a search in Greystones, Co. Wicklow. The dog teams were stood down en route when the missing person was located by MR personnel and airlifted to hospital. On Monday evening, both Mick & Ziggy and Louise & Lyla were again called out with South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association to search for a walker who was lost in the fog near the top of Slievenamon. The search parties were able to get a fix on his position on the mountain using the Sarloc system, after which he was successfully located by search dog Ziggy and handler Mick. The walker and all search parties were safely off the mountain by 7.30pm. A great result all round!
Photo of Ziggy by South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association.
So proud of you both Louise and Lyla!
A well deserved bone for Ziggy I think! And for Mick as well if he wants...
a busy few days then
Congrats, everyone, who took part in all those searches over the weekend. True heroes!
Well done Louise Burgoyne and Lyla, Michael Grant and Ziggy!
Well done teams! 🐕🐶🥇
Well done all
Well done, Mick and Louise!
Love to hear all this good work that's being done ....wonderful
Great asset to have available.well done and keep up the great work.👍
Well done guys
Well done Mick and ziggy and Louise and lyla!
Go Ziggy!
Great work SARDA.
Well done!!
Fantastic work!! Well done 🙏🏼
Brilliant
Well done Mick
Sad and poignant news today. Caitríona Lucas's (RIP) search dog Zac has passed away at the age of 14. Caitríona and Zac were on SARDA's callout list for 7 years and responded to numerous incidents around the country during their service. We will never forget them. 💔 Thank you for the beautiful photo, Bernard Lucas.
Rest well Zac. Thank you.
RIP zac 😢
RIP brave Zac!!! You’ve served your country well!!! 🙏🏻🇨🇮
So sorry to hear RIP Zac.
RIP Zac
Such a beautiful photo they are now together again sleep well zac😘💐
Run free search dog Zac and thank you for your hard work. X
RIP Zac
R.I.P. Zac, chase those memories.
They are together again RIP
Prayers
Very sad news, our sympathies to the Lucas family and to all in SARDA. May they rest in peace together.
RIP Zac, thanks for all the runouts! Great memories of training with Catriona and Zac with my dear old Nemo.
Anne Walsh 💕
Poor Luv
Sleep tight Zac and thankyou for all the searching 🥰
So sorry to read this. 🐾🐾💔
So sorry💔
So very sorry x
Cathriona and Zac were such a brilliant team..it was such a honour to be both a friend and colleague to them during my years in Sarda
Condolences to all family friends and all who knew Zac RIP Search dog Zac
Run free over rainbow 🌈 bridge Zac Rest easy ❤️
Such a beautiful picture-RIP together ❤️
💔🐾
SARDA held a national training event in Kerry over the weekend. On Saturday, the team trained in the Bridia Valley near Glencar; on Sunday, we set up some areas in the dunes at Rossbeigh strand. Thank you Mick Grant for overseeing the training, and thanks also to everyone who helped as dogsbodies. Meanwhile, a few of our dogs and handlers took part in the Killarney Mountain Festival where SARDA had a stand all day on Sat. On Sun, we also gave a talk on search dogs and one of our handlers, Louise Burgoyne, did a demo in the park with search dog Lyla. Lots of people visited the stand over the weekend – great to meet ye all!SARDA held a national training event in Kerry over the weekend. On Saturday, the team trained in the Bridia Valley near Glencar; on Sunday, we set up some areas in the dunes at Rossbeigh strand. Thank you Mick Grant for overseeing the training, and thanks also to everyone who helped as dogsbodies. Meanwhile, a few of our dogs and handlers took part in the Killarney Mountain Festival where SARDA had a stand all day on Sat. On Sun, we also gave a talk on search dogs and one of our handlers, Louise Burgoyne, did a demo in the park with search dog Lyla. Lots of people visited the stand over the weekend – great to meet ye all!
Photos by Mike Palmer, Dorothy Grimes, Tom MacNamee, Éamonn Mac an Bheatha.
Louise Burgoyne
Thanks for being part of Killarney Mountain Festival 🙂
SARDA is at Killarney Mountain Festival this weekend — come and meet our dogs and handlers if you’re around! There will also be a search dog demo on Sunday at midday.
Hope to see ye there, ye are great at what ye do & l love dogs.
The SARDA team is heading to Kerry this weekend for some training and also to take part in the excellent Killarney Mountain Festival. We will have an info stand with some of our handlers & dogs in the Basecamp area and will also do a search dog demo in the park on Sunday at midday. Hope to see you there! Keep an eye out on the festival's FB page and their website (killarneymountainfestival.com/) for info & updates.
Killarney Mountain Festival, Guest speakers, Adventure Films, Mountain Rescue, Walks and climbs
killarneymountainfestival.com
Programme of over forty outstanding events, running throughout the weekend, including outdoor adventure film, guest speakers, guided walks, park run, photography exhibits, children’s activities,...
We received a very generous donation from Kalee Lodge Kennels today: an 8-week old German Shepherd puppy with an excellent pedigree. This new SARDA hopeful was picked from the litter by SARDA handlers Don Murphy, Louise Burgoyne and Jean Ryan. Jean is the proud new owner of this beaut. 😍 Thank you very much for your generosity, Kate Lawlor (and dad Brendan Lawlor)!We had the assessment team for SARDA Ireland with us today assessing our puppies for use as a future SAR Dog and we were thrilled with their reaction to the litter and even more delighted when they chose Kalee Lodge Henvika from the current Bianka x Rio litter to enter their training programme. It makes all the hard work of breeding and raising quality puppies worth while when you see one of your pups start out on an amazing life like this.
He will be called Trakr after the famous GSD who was involved in rescuing people from the towers after 9/11 - we think its a very appropriate name for him ❤️🇮🇪💪
#payingitforward
Can’t wait to meet the new recruit.
He’s a beauty. Just settling in tonight. Some pics tomorrow
Kevin Murphy
Nice! Well done!
A few of our handlers met for a spot of training in Garretstown Woods, West Cork yesterday. This is trainee search dog Piper (handled by Dorothy Grimes) happy out after locating dogsbody Karolina Zavišek! Photo by Mike Palmer.
Springers rock
Last week search dog Ziggy and his handler Michael Grant responded to a request from the mountain rescue teams in Wicklow for search dogs. During the subsequent search, the body of the missing person was found by search dog Ziggy. Search dog Lyla and handler Louise Burgoyne were stood down en route. RIP.
Well done Mick and Ziggy. Sad outcome but the family and friends have closure
Well done Mick and Ziggy . Priceless work
Bringing 'closure' to a Family and friends 👍
Well done Mick and Ziggy.
Sad outcome but well done Mick
Well done guys. Despite the sad outcome you have provided a a great service.
Great work under very sad circumstances. Well done Mick and Ziggy.
Fantastic work ... well done ...
Great job in sad circumstances. Well done all.
Well done, Ziggy and Mick. Thoughts are with the family.
Great work Mick & Ziggy.
Well done Mick and Ziggy. Finding the person’s body will mean so much to the family!
Well done guys You all do a wonderful job
Well done Mick and Ziggy, sad circumstances but a hard job done well
Well done Ziggy, sorry it didn't work out.
Thank you Mick & Ziggy. The call to help is always positively answered.
A sad outcome, but well done to you, Mick & Ziggy.
Well done Mick & Ziggy
Well done Mick
Well done Ziggy! Great job Mick
Thank you,
Well done Mick & Ziggy. Sorry it was under such sad circumstances.
Great job Mick & Ziggy. Thank you
Very sad ...but well done Ziggi and Mick
SARDA handler Michael Grant and search dog Ziggy were tasked to this incident in the Galtee Mountains yesterday. The dog team was stood down en route to the incident when the missing walkers were located by another search party from South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association. A great result for all concerned!SEMRA were tasked this afternoon at about 4pm by Thurles Garda Station. Five walkers were reported missing in the Galtees. The walkers had got disoriented and snow was beginning to fall. The team spoke to the group by mobile phone and were able to guide them in the direction of our members who had arrived on scene at the Black Road. The group had originally set out from the northern side of the Galtees. The walkers were met by team members on the Black Road and subsequently transported back to their cars by SEMRA vehicle.
Fantastic!
A few photos from a training session in the Reeks in Kerry this weekend. Trainee search dogs Syd (with handler Jarlath Folan) and Rowan (with handler Sheelagh O'Malley) were being observed by SARDA's training officer Gerry Tobin and one of our assessors, Catherine Kelly in preparation for their upcoming assessments while trainee search dog Fia and the new potential SARDA puppy Alfie were looking on. Orlaith Kelly and Alan Ryan were bodying. Good going, everyone!
Another nice photo from today by Sheelagh.
Photos by Catherine Kelly.
One of our members, Janet Murphy, did a training session with the crew of the Sligo-based Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 a week ago on Friday. Trainee search dog JJ took to it like a natural! Check out his cool 'doggles' as well. 😎 Many thanks to winchman Conal McCarron and the rest of the crew of Rescue 118 official. Footage credit: Ryan Gray.
Video by Ryan Gray. Thanks Ryan!
Fabulous!
Well done everyone. Much appreciated
Emma Barron Louise Moore
Nice one Janet Murphy. Looks like a great day
Michael G Hurst
Huge thanks to everyone who donated money to our collectors in Cork on Saturday! Your generosity will go a long way towards our equipment and training costs this year. The collection day is also always a great opportunity to meet people and chat to them about the vital work our search dog teams do. Thanks also to all our collectors – human and canine – and to Don Murphy, who kindly organised the permits and everything else required for the day. If you would like to donate to SARDA, you can still do so on our website (sardaireland.com/donations-funding). SARDA Ireland is a registered charity, and all our members are unpaid volunteers.
Marie Clavin
We are doing our annual fund-raising collection in Cork tomorrow (Sat 12th). You will find our collectors and SARDA dogs in the city centre and all the main shopping centres (Bishopstown, Douglas Court, Douglas Village, Blackpool and Wilton) all day tomorrow. Come and meet the dogs and chat with the handlers if you're around!
Do you ever do such a thing in Galway city or county..?? If you are doing any such event please let me know I’ll help.
Is there a way to donate on your site?
Good luck!! 🧡
Two of our handlers, Eadaoin O'Gorman (with search dog Murphy) and Louise Burgoyne (with search dog Lyla) were called out to the Galtee Mountains last night with South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association. Both dog teams were stood down when the missing hikers were located by a SEMRA search party. A great result for all involved.
Fantastic outcome for all concerned. Congrats!
Well done
Congratulations Ladies what a way to start the new year! Thank you for your wonderful volunteerism 🙏
Well done to all involved! Great outcome 🧡
Happy New year to you all,
A training session at the Vee in the Knockmealdown Mountains yesterday. Photo by Marie Lawlor.
Looking good guys. I miss those days
Nice to see some of ye yesterday, happy Christmas. (It was dry on the Galtees after)
SARDA held assessments in Wicklow over the weekend, and two of our dog teams successfully made the upgrade to 'full mountain search dog' grade – which, as anyone working with search dogs knows, is a huge achievement. Super well done to Louise Burgoyne & Lyla and to Michael Grant & Ziggy! A lot of hard work has gone into preparing for these tough three-day assessments. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our external assessors who travelled over from across the Irish Sea: Ken Sloan and Ian Thompson from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England (SARDA England) and Harold Burrows, Richard Beech and Antony D Ll Griffiths from SARDA Wales. Also big thanks to our own assessors: Henry Smith, Catherine Kelly, Don Murphy, Helen NicChonmara and Gerry Tobin. And, as always, much gratitude to everyone who helped by hiding on the hills as dogsbodies.SARDA held assessments in Wicklow over the weekend, and two of our dog teams successfully made the upgrade to 'full mountain search dog' grade – which, as anyone working with search dogs knows, is a huge achievement. Super well done to Louise Burgoyne & Lyla and to Michael Grant & Ziggy! A lot of hard work has gone into preparing for these tough three-day assessments. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our external assessors who travelled over from across the Irish Sea: Ken Sloan and Ian Thompson from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England (SARDA England) and Harold Burrows, Richard Beech and Antony D Ll Griffiths from SARDA Wales. Also big thanks to our own assessors: Henry Smith, Catherine Kelly, Don Murphy, Helen NicChonmara and Gerry Tobin. And, as always, much gratitude to everyone who helped by hiding on the hills as dogsbodies.
All photos by Pauliina Kauppila.
Search And Rescue Dog Association England, Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA Wales)
Con grats Mike
Congratulations!!!
Well done Mick
Congrats
Well done all. Thank you for the wonderful work that you all do. Your commitment is unreal. Thank you. 👏👏
Congrats Mick
Congrats Mick
Fantastic achievement! We'll done to ye both
Brilliant Louise Burgoyne!!!!🎉🎉👏👏👏
Happy Tails, well done everypawdy 🙂
Well done Guys Super achievement
Fantastic - congrats, folks. Thanks for looking after people in distress.
Congratulations
Well done Louise and Lyla!!!
Well done Louise and Lyla!!
Well done Louise 👌🏻
Great news, well done!
Well done guys. I know how much you train. It’s a long relentless commitment to get where you are and your upgrade is well deserved. Our country is in a better place having you guys willing and able to help bring our loved ones home.
Massive congrats to you both. Well done
Congratulations to the four of you, well done 👏👏👏
Well done both
Wonderful work 👏🐶
Great achievement! May I ask you how big the area were?
Three SARDA dog teams (Michael Grant with Ziggy, Louise Burgoyne with Lyla and Eadaoin O'Gorman with Murphy) were placed on standby yesterday by the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team for this incident. Happily, the missing hiker was located safe and well before the SARDA teams set off.Callout 231118;
At 1620hrs today the team received a request on behalf of a lost walker. The adult male had become disoriented on Slieve Binnian and found himself in difficult terrain. With basic information and no further communication with the walker, the team started searching. Due to the nature of the incident, including the terrain, further assets were requested and responding. Fortunately, the walker was eventually able to retrace his steps and make his way down safely. A total of 17 team members responded and stood down at 2120hrs. Thanks to the PSNI Search & Rescue Team, PSNI Air Support, SARDA Ireland and Belfast Coastguard for their support.
Just as well as we definitely didn’t bring enough cake! Thanks again guys.
Well done to everyone involved. You are all truly amazing people.🙂
A follow up from our recent visit to Rescue 117 base in Waterford: SARDA Ireland team members Gerry Tobin, Eadaoin O'Gorman and Noel Culbert with search dogs Fia and Murphy advanced their heli familiarisation training with a flight. Thank you to the crew of R117 for facilitating our dog teams. We hope you enjoy the video.A follow up from our recent visit to Rescue117 base in Waterford; SARDA Ireland team members Gerry Tobin, Éadaoin O'Gorman and Noel Culbert with search dogs ...
I know that small keyboard!😂
Yes it is superb we just have to train collies to ignore bright coloured suits😂 but they'll get there. It is fantastic for all sorts of reasons!! Thanks so much Rescue 117 and to Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland) for sharing. Awesome!💕
What a brilliant video! Shows how much time, effort and love goes into preparing the dogs for so many scenarios. Well done.
👏
Dogs!
Lovely to watch the digs getting used to the noise and strange sights.
If you are free this Saturday (Nov 24th), please consider doing the 'Long Way Round' in and around Clonmel! This event is an annual night hike/run organised as a fundraiser for South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association. More details at www.semra.ie/longwayround/.
South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association
SEMRA members walked the Long Way Round route last night in preparation for Saturday the 24th. For anyone who has not completed the Long Way Round this short video shows the wonderful views of Clonmel that walkers and runners hope to see at the top of the mountain. If you register before midnight tonight (Sunday 18th) you can collect your number at our base in Clonmel on Thursday 22nd (6-9pm) You can still register at www.semra.ie/longwayround/
but don't leave it too late. As you can see from the video it is a wonderful route and great fun!
A nice photo of one of our dog teams, Eadaoin O'Gorman & Murphy, taking a break from training in Wicklow yesterday.
This reminds me of my van - dog on the bed, me on the floor!!!
Right order, dog gets the bed and owner gets the floor🤣😂🤣
Tis a great life those dogs have
Pretty clear whose the boss there.
Putting your feet up!
Taking a break... 🙄
Great result for the SARDA dog teams on the Isle of Man.**CALL OUT **DOG FIND**
At 23:35 police requested dog teams to deploy to search for a high risk misper. Dog handler Jim Macgregor with search dog Star and navigator Jody Smith, dog handler Gary Wright with search dog Holly and navigator Mal Stewart and dog handler Marc Marshall with search dog Matt and navigator Ffinlo Williams attend the call.
After several areas searched, Search dog Matt found the missing person. Handler Marc and navigator Ffinlo administered first aid and a coastguard rescue team used their basket stretch to carry the casualty to the Ambulance.
Great team work by all involved, from the police and ESJCR coordinating the search and teams, SARDA in locating the person and the Coastguard assisting in the search and carrying the casualty out as well as the ambulance crew for treating the patient.
Congratulations to all on a successful find!
Last Friday the crew of Waterford-based Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 welcomed two of our dog handlers, Gerry Tobin and Eadaoin O'Gorman to their base. We were made to feel very welcome by Adrian O'Hara, Neville Murphy and Jason O'Flynn, and the dogs were given plenty of playtime in between the familiarisation work in and around the helicopter, with gradually increasing noise levels. The trip culminated in a dry-winching exercise (all while SARDA member & photographer Noel Culbert was living his dream, pretending to be a pilot). Also worth noting was that that the two namesakes (winchman Murphy and search dog Murphy) hit it off straight away and had a ball – literally. It was love at first sight. Thank you Rescue 117 for giving us such an “uplifting” experience and we look forward to working with you in the future.
Thanks for the great video, Noel Culbert!
Laura Moran Michelle Whelan
Heroes all - thank you folks!
Murphy the Border Collie training with Murphy the Bearded Collie
Fantastic video guys 👍 Great to have ye with us (especially Murphy). Keep up the good work and I look forward to the next training session
I'd say both Murphys are partial to a bit of cake also.... 😂😂
Both teams are the unsung heroes for the work that they carry out on a daily basis. Keep up the great work and stay safe
Well done guys , ye are just simply amazing , fab dog too
Great!
SARDA held a national training weekend in Wicklow over Sat and Sun. Very poor visibility and heavy rain hampered the proceedings somewhat on Saturday, but Sunday was a fine clear day. A few of our dog teams are progressing nicely towards novice & upgrade assessments, so watch this space! Thanks a lot to everyone who bodied over the weekend, to Louise Burgoyne and Sheelagh O'Malley for organising all the practical arrangements, and to Henry Smith, Catherine Kelly, Michael Grant and Eadaoin O'Gorman for setting search areas and observing the dog teams working through them.
Photo: Sheelagh O'Malley with trainee search dog Rowan. Photo by Janet Murphy.
they are devoted to each other
Fab shot Sheelagh!
Hard Work!!! Thank You!!
Very sad news today. Search dog Dexter has passed away after a short illness – far too soon, and in his prime. This is a huge loss to his handler Gerry Tobin, who is also SARDA's training officer, and to SARDA Ireland. Since qualifying as a search dog team in 2013 the pair have been on callouts all over Ireland and assisted with numerous incidents – many of them with their home team South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association. In May 2015, their skills directly resulted in saving a person's life after Dexter successfully located an unconscious casualty in difficult circumstances. Gerry and Dex have also been a familiar sight at many emergency services events as well as visits to schools – with his friendly nature, Dex was always a great ambassador for search dogs! We at SARDA Ireland can't believe that this legend of a dog is no longer with us, and our hearts are broken for Gerry and his family. Rest in peace, Dex, and thank you for your service.
There are no words for this kind of loss. He was a king amongst canines.
Very sad, well done Dexter, rest now
So sorry to hear this, he was such a lovely dog with such a great personality, so friendly. You were a great team, thinking of you and your family 😪
Heartbreaking lads another one gone to rainbow 🌈 Bridge 😢
An amazing dog and well known throughout the services.
Condolences to you. As handlers we have a massive bond with our beautiful dogs. Journey well Dexter
Our thoughts are with Gerry and everyone South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association at this impossible time. RIP Dexter, Still on the hill x 🐾💕
An amazing dog ❤ Rest in peace Dexter...our thoughts are with you all ❤
Sorry for your loss Gerry condolences to all who know you and your beautiful search dog RIP Dexter thanks for your service
So tough to lose a working dog like that... thinking of you xxx
Gerry, this is just the saddest news. We will all miss dex, he was a beautiful dog & loved by all that met him. Hope you will be ok, thinking of you at this really sad time, RIP Dex, doggy heaven has a true hero today xx 😢
So sorry to hear of Dexters passing,the work dogs like Dexter and their handlers do can never ever be under estimated,it is not until you witness their skills first hand that you appreciate their immense worth!R.i.P Dexter and thank you and Gerry for your service and hard work!
Our sincere condolences
Heartbreaking........ to lose such a devoted team mate and faithful friend. My thoughts go out to the entire SARDA team and especially Gerry. Words can not express the giant hole left when such a gentle, dedicated soul passes on. It was an honor to "body" for him.
Awhh what a stunning boy he was...rip dexter..run free over the rainbow bridge🐕
Very sad news sorry for your loss Gerry. A great loss to Sarda and mountain rescue teams.
My sinceres sympathies to Gerry, and all involved, a very sad day indeed 😢 dogs always have such a special place in our hearts and I'm sure Dexter memory will live on xxx
So sorry to hear that about Dexter. Sorry for your loss Gerry and all the SARDA team. Had the pleasure of meeting Dexter and Gerry when they came to Belmullet to assist the Ballyglass Coast Guard in the search for the missing crew of R116. Rip Dexter❤️😥
so sorry to hear such sad news Gerry run free Dexter
Very saddened to hear this news, and I’m sorry for your loss Gerry. I was there at the callout in 2015, and will never forget what Dexter did that night. I’ll also confess to sneaking him a custard cream or two at the debrief. Good boy, Dex!
Gerry so sorry for your loss...Dexter was one of the best dogs I think I ever came across...and he was a credit to you
It must be miserable for the owner and sad for you all good thoughtful folk.
Sorry to hear such sad news, thoughts to everyone.
So very sorry to hear such sad news. Are thoughts are with you all.
I’m so sorry to hear about Dexter and the awful time it must be for his family. Dex is forever in the hills
SARDA held a national training weekend in Co. Waterford over Fri and Sat. Original plan had been to train at Lough Mohra in the Comeraghs on Saturday but, due to very poor visibility, we decamped to Tickincor forest nearby where we ran two search areas with Gerry Tobin, Michael Grant, Helen NicChonmara and Eadaoin O'Gorman supervising the training. On Sunday we trained at Bay Lough near The Vee. Henry Smith and Louise Burgoyne joined our merry gang for three areas, with young pupsters and more experienced dogs all going through their paces. Many thanks to all our dogsbodies and everyone else who helped out!
Photo: Louise with Mike's trainee dog Penelope. Photo by Mike Palmer.
Sunday was a busy day for SARDA's handlers with two callouts in the Galtee Mountains. The 1st callout kicked off in the early afternoon after a hillwalker got disoriented in the heavy fog near the summit and required assistance. Two dog teams (Michael Grant with search dog Ziggy and Eadaoin O'Gorman with search dog Murphy) responded along with their home team, South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association. Happily, with assistance over the phone from the SEMRA callout officer the walker was able make his way down to meet the SEMRA hill party, and the dog teams were stood down. The 2nd tasking came at 6.30pm on Sunday evening after two hillwalkers were reported overdue to return from the Galtees and could not be contacted. SARDA handlers Mick Grant (with Ziggy) and Gerry Tobin (with search dog Dexter) were on the way to the location when the two walkers were reported safe down off the mountain by other members of SEMRA. Stock photo: SARDA dog team Mick Grant & Ziggy.
Well done lads and doggy
Well done everyone and the dogs
Ziggy is looking great.
Ziggy is looking great.
Beautiful doggie 💕
Well done folks!! Great pic!
Well done to u all. Glad to hear a such a great outcome. Thanks for the fantastic work that ye do.
Nice one guys !
Nice one lads. Everyone home safe 👍
Looking good Michael Grant and Ziggy
Always available....well done everyone from SEMRA and SARDA......greatly appreciated.
Two of SARDA's dog handlers, Gerry Tobin (with search dog Dexter & trainee search dog Fia) and Louise Burgoyne (with search dog Lyla) took part in a demo that was given to Limerick Climbing Club by South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association on Saturday. Photos by Deirdre O'Brien.Very informative session with South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association and Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland) yesterday. They do amazing work with very little government support. All volunteers Who give up their time to help others.
Thanks to Limerick Climbing Club for arranging the session.
Photos by Deirdre O Brien