The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Brave paw patrol honoured
Awards: Devotion to duty recognised by charity
Three dogs are to be honoured by a veterinary charity at the Scottish Parliament for their bravery and devotion to duty.
Police dog Ozzy is to pick up the PDSA gold medal, the equivalent of the George Cross for animals, for disarming a man who was threatening to blow up a block of flats.
Fel l o w p o l i c e dog Sweep and civilian dog Sabby are getting the PDSA order of merit, described as the animal equivalent of an OBE, at the special ceremony in Edinburgh last night. PDSA director general Jan McLoughlin said: “Between them, these three wonderful dogs have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, courage and character.
“They have excelled in different ways but each story demonstrates the huge contribution that animals make to our lives.”
In 2015, Ozzy and his handler Constable Brian Tennant were called to a flat in Falkirk after a man assaulted two people at knifepoint. MrTennantdiscovered the man had severed a gas pipe and was threatening to blow up the building.
After warning the attacker, he released Ozzy, who tackled the man to the ground where he was disarmed and arrested.
Sweep, a working Cocker Spaniel, is receiving his award for outstanding devotion to duty while working as a detection dog for Lothian and Borders Police and Police Scotland.
During an eight- year career, 11year-old Sweep was trained to detect drugs, firearms, cash and poison, and worked alongside Police Constable Rhona Meikle. Sweep became the UK’s only poison detection dog in 2012 after being trained to find carbofuran, a deadly banned poison used to target birds of prey. He remained in the role until his retirement in 2015. Labrador Sabby (Sabakka) is being awarded the order of merit in recognition of her role supporting people with learning difficulties. She retired in 2016 after a 10-year career working with NHS Lanarkshire’s learning disability occupational therapy service team.