Search and Rescue News

Sleep well 'Sky'

As dog owners who also know the pain of losing a much loved companion CSJ would like to pass on their condolences to owners Annette and Tom Sawyer who recently had to say goodbye to their loyal and devoted search dog ‘Sky'……………

Sky worked with Annette and Tom, members of Berkshire Search and Rescue Dogs. She answered over 50 calls for help over her years of service and took part in three searches that saved lives. She spent her summer months attending shows, giving demonstrations and going to schools helping nervous children to trust dogs.

How Sky's story began…….

In the summer of 1999 Annette and Tom set out to look for a Chocolate Lab and came home from Holiday in Scotland with a Red and Tan Australian Kelpie…………..

They called her 'Sky' - with her beautiful red hair, amber eyes and white toes she won their hearts at first sight.

Annette looked for ways to keep her busy. Someone said try agility, but ‘mum' could not run fast enough and Sky would let her know with loud barks.

She became a cover girl for 'Dogs Today' at the tender age of 18 months. Annette says, "They could not resist her beauty. Needless to say she did not tire of posing for them at the photo shoot.”

Tom and Annette then turned their attention to Search and Rescue and in 2004 Sky passed her first operational assessment allowing her to search for missing people on behalf of the Police.

She went on to pass ‘a' again, this time with Tom and he openly admits that she taught him how to search with a dog.

Sky gained a reputation that if she could work the walkie talkie she would have gone by herself!

"Our Little Red Dog”

All Sky asked in return for her hard work was that she got play with her favourite squeaky toy. But most importantly she was Annette and Tom's ‘Little Red Dog', full of life and full of love.

After going to sleep peacefully at home, this brave and beautiful girl was cremated with full honours in her Search and Rescue Coat with her favourite toy.

Annette says, "I know she is now in doggy heaven with her old play mate 'Freddie'. Sleep well my girl you deserve it.”

(posted 11/03/2010)