The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fife search dogs called up to find bodies in to war-ravaged Ukraine
Three Fife search dogs have been put on standby to help find bodies in Ukrainian war zones. Handlers John Miskelly from Falkland and Emma Dryburgh from Methil will travel to Italy next month with their cadaver dogs, trained to pick up the scent of human remains.
The pair are then waiting for the call-up, once it is deemed safe, to head to where they are needed in Ukraine.
John’s dogs, six-year-old Bracken and Bramble, four, have already taken part in recovery missions elsewhere but nothing like what they will face in Ukraine.
Meantime, Emma and Dougal, who is almost two years old, are in training.
Both John and Emma are part of Response Rescue International Scotland, which helps to find human remains in war and disaster zones.
Dogs and their handlers work alongside police in Scotland but are also trained to work in situations like the war in Ukraine, where it is expected that bodies are still lost in bombed buildings.
John is a team leader with the group while Emma is still training.
John said: “We are currently in contact with a dog team in Ukraine who are sending us regular updates. They are working when they can just now but the situation out there is still obviously very unsafe with regular heavy shelling and artillery fire.
“The team leader over there has been describing some really difficult situations they have been working in.”
John said he is aware they will be working in dangerous and upsetting conditions.
“We are trained and prepared and it is about finding loved ones for families and allowing them to have closure,” he said.
Emma, an NHS vaccinator, said she never believed she would be involved in this kind of work.
The 35-year-old said: “Dougal and I met John when I wanted to learn about dog handling.
“It became obvious that Dougal was going to be very good at this kind of work. John saw the potential in both us and I got involved.
“When Dougal is off-duty he is a typical puppy, playful and full of mischief but when he goes training he knows what his job is.
“He becomes very focused, gets on with it and won’t be distracted.”
Emma added: “I never thought I would become involved with something like this.
“The thought of going to Ukraine is scary but I want to be able to help families over there to get closure.”
“It is about finding loved ones for families and allowing them to have closure