Dog recruits to be 'invaluable' in search and rescue

(L-R) WightSAR Trainee Search Dog handler Catherine Fitton with Ginny, Wightlink Island Port Operations Manager Martin Gulliver and Trainee Search Dog handler Jasmine Light with Malli

Two specialist search dogs are joining a resue team to give volunteers extra support finding missing people.

Malli and Ginny are the latest recruits for WightSAR (Isle of Wight Search and Rescue).

The organisation supports Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary when a vulnerable person goes missing.

The new four-legged recruits will help while searching woodland and fields, and ferry firm Wightlink is supporting their training on the mainland.

Malli is a three-year-old sprocker spaniel, an air-scent dog. She will work alongside seven-year-old Ginny, who operates as a ground scent labrador.

Both are going through their training with handlers Jasmine Light and Catherine Fitton, with Ms Light saying it was "invaluable".

The two-year training programme is supported by the National Search Dog Association, with the ferry company’s sponsorship of WightSAR helping with travel costs for the dogs and their handlers.

WightSAR chairman Dean Terrett said Malli and Ginny would help them be more effective.

He explained: “There is only so much a human can do. The amazing noses of dogs give us a better chance of finding people and this will make such a difference.”

Air search dogs are trained to follow scents given off by a missing person.

Once they have found them, they return to their handler and lead the human team to the location.

Ground search dogs use a piece of clothing or personal item with the missing person’s scent.

Sam Woodman, from Wightlink, said: “We all dread a loved one going missing and know the work WightSAR is doing on the island in difficult situations is tremendous.

"We are delighted to support this dog training initiative.”