Pluckiest pooch in Scotland to retire
FROM sniffing out earthquake survivors to searching scorched ruins for signs of life, this veteran of the fire service has earned his retirement.
Springer spaniel Diesel has hung up his specially-made protective boots and goggles after saving countless lives over the past eight years.
He has been involved in more than 300 call-outs as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s leading search and rescue dog.
The 11-year-old was even sent with his handler to Nepal in 2015 after the country was hit by an earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people.
Diesel joined the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue team in 2012 and then was put to work by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in 2015.
He was the first search dog used by SFRS and will hand over the lead to his young protégé Mac.
Based in Portlethen, near Aberdeen, Diesel has been working with handler Gary Carroll, who will look after him during his retirement.
Mr Carroll said: ‘Myself and Diesel have had a great working relationship over the years. I’ve had him since the day he was born and have been able to watch him grow into an incredible search dog.
‘When we’ve attended incidents he’s always checking that I am OK in the same way that I have done with him.’
Martin Blunden, chief officer for SFRS, paid tribute to Diesel, saying: ‘I want to thank him for his service – he’s been an important part of our response across Scotland for a number of years.’
Mac, Diesel’s replacement, is a fouryear-old English springer spaniel.