A fire and rescue service has recruited an adorable new cocker spaniel to join their specialist team.
Kent Fire and Rescue welcomed fluffy new recruit, Buzz, a 19-week-old black spaniel, to the team to help find people trapped in buildings.
The inquisitive pup lives in Cranbrook with search and rescue dog handler, Andy Parks and his family, and works in Maidstone.
Andy said: “He’s a cute, fluffy pup that everyone wants to make a fuss of but there are rules.
“When he’s in his cage, he’s left alone, it’s his time, he can sleep in there and he’s safe.
“As he gets older, those rules may be relaxed or he’ll be in a run downstairs in the bay.
“As with any puppy it’s about socialization to different environments, noises, textures, and general obedience.
“Teaching Buzz some manners is important but it’s essential we don’t take his drive away or suppress him so that he thinks he’s got to be sitting by my side all the time.”
Andy will be responsible for training Buzz over the next two years, helping him to learn how to respond to a wide range of people, environments and situations.
The technical rescue team are trained to work in the most inaccessible places, such as down sewers, and at train, plane and lorry crashes.
Buzz will specialise in ‘air scenting’, where he can react to human scents being blown towards him on the wind.
Andy added: “Buzz lives at home and is getting used to his work/home environment, and as he completes his training he will become a very valuable work tool asset.
“So rather than getting a snake-eyed camera out of the van for certain search and rescue operations, we’ll get Buzz out, he’s here to do a very specific job.”
