Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 14/03/2005 16:15

Cornwall County Fire Brigade’s accelerant detection dogs and trainer were invited by their food sponsors, Purina, to attend Crufts 2005 at Birmingham NEC. The team; Sub Officer Richard Gibbons and his dogs Nelson and Charlie went to the show for three days and helped out at the Purina Stand.

Other professional dogs invited by the dog food company were from the Police, the Prison Service, British International Rescue Dogs (BIRD), Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA) and other British Fire Service accelerant detection dogs.

“During the three days Nelson, Charlie and I helped out at the Purina stand, partook in practical demonstrations and did some promotional work for the food company. Charlie showed his skills in front of over 3000 people in the Main Arena. He sniffed out a tiny drop of petrol placed on one of a dozen carpet tiles positioned around the ring” said Sub Officer Richard Gibbons

He cont: “Purina supply Nelson and Charlie with food, wet weather walking gear, bowls, beds and blankets. They have sponsored the dogs for two years”

Other fire services that attended were Surrey, West Sussex, Avon, South Wales, London and West Mids.
Cornwall is one of the smallest brigade’s to have arson detection dogs.

Nelson (a german shephered x border collie) is the longest serving arson detection dog in the country and has been in the job over eight years. At the age of nine and a half he will be officially retiring in April.

Charlie (a bearded collie x border collie) aged three and a half, has been working for the brigade for two and half years.