“Taz, the dog that found my Grandad”
Hero police dog visits school for special praise
A Perthshire schoolgirl has thanked the police dog who ler her enjoy precious years with her grandad.
Myla Scrimgeor’s grandfather, John Geddes, died last Christmas at the age of 75.
When Myla (6), from Murthly, asked about her grandad’s life, she was amazed to hear the story of how his life had been saved by German shepherd, Tav back in 2011.
“It was the bad winter of 2010/11 when grandad went missing late at night from the family home in Glenfarg,” explained Toni Geddes, mum to Myla.
“He’s gone missing before, battled Alzheimer’s for 15 years, but my mum raised the alarm when she saw he’d stepped out into the snow without even a coat and it was bedtime, in January.
“It was a big scare for all of us. Police searchers - Sgt Allison Salmean and PC Ryan Galloway - reached the house in Glenfarg around midnight, with Taz the trained patrol dog.
“Two hours later, having followed dad’s footsteps in the snow over hill and dale, Taz led them to him. He had to spend the night in hospital, being treated for hypothermia, but otherwise he was OK.
“When my mum Cathie told Myla the story of grandad’s lucky escape, Myla was totally intrigued and wanted to meet the dog that saved his life.
“When he went off in the dark, without that rescue, she’d have never got to meet her grandad. And she’s trying to find out all she can about him as he passed away in December.”
But the incident happened seven years ago, and Taz is retired after a long career helping the police.
“We never got to really say thank you to PC Galloway and Sgt Salmean for finding grandad,” said Toni who works as cabin crew for BMI Regional based out of Aberdeen.
“We asked if they could come to school to tell the tale now Myla was old enough to understand. And they did, with Taz too, even though she’s 11 and a half and an old dog now.”
On Monday Murthly Primary School greeted the two police officers in the assembly hall.
“Myla had a rosette all made up, saying “Thank you Taz”.
The other children were thrilled to see the famous resue dog after hearing PC Galloway recount the story of looking in the snow for Myla’s lost grandad.
“The officer took everyone outside to see some younger police dogs show off their skills,” said Toni.
“PC Galloway had the dogs play findthe-lost-keys and put on the big arm bandage, commanding a dog jump up and grab him. They went wild when he was swinging this huge German Shepherd around, it was amazing.”
In a quieter moment Myla got a lick on the face from Taz, who now lives without worry with a retired police sergeant. “Myla was upset and didn’t want to talk about it till after,” explained her mum.
“I thought she just didn’t like the dog licking her, but Myla explained that she’d heard how when he was found, her grandad remembered being licked on the face by Taz, so it made her sad to think of him. She is missing him since he died and Taz made that connection for her.” Taz meets Myla Scrimgeour (6)