What life is like for a member of Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs team in 2020

Bug is proud to be one of three operational dog handlers and chairman of the Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs team, who work tirelessly to find vulnerable people 365 days a year, despite the pandemic.

‘I got into dog handling in 2013,’ says Bug, from Hayling Island. ‘I bought a springer spaniel puppy after I left the navy and I knew I wanted to get into the search and rescue team.

‘Oppo was accepted into training in October 2013 and it took about 18 months to train him before we finished in 2015.

‘It takes between two years to train a dog to be fully operational. Oppo was quick and it only took him about 18 months.’

Bug, who was an engineering officer in the navy for 35 years before retiring, says his team covers Hampshire as well as Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey and Suffolk.

Bug, 62, says: ‘The whole team are volunteers. There are three operational dogs – two collies and Oppo – and then there are 14 people in the team.

‘We cover the whole of Hampshire but because there are so few dogs, we provide services to other areas too.

‘We work alongside the police who have their own search advisor, who coordinates the whole operation. The search manager is from Hampshire Search and Rescue, who we also work closely with.’

As well as their operational duties, the Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs team meets twice a week to train the dogs.

‘We meet on a Wednesday and then the whole day on Sunday. We train across Hampshire, from Havant Thicket to Micheldever Woods,’ says Bug, who is now self-employed.

‘We do expect the handlers to train their dogs outside of those sessions though.’

The aim of the game for operational dogs is to lead their handler to the person they have found. Through a dog’s eyes, it’s all a big game.

Bug explains: ‘Essentially, the search is like a game to the dogs. Once they complete a specific command, they get to play with their toy.

‘It starts off with them running towards a person and then they get to play with their toy. But gradually that person gets further and further away until the dog can’t see them any more.

‘The difference between search dogs and family pets is that they’re trained to bring their handler to the person.

‘All dogs are naturally intuitive but the art is training them to come back and take you to the person.’

Bug and Oppo are on call 365 days a year – and unfortunately Oppo’s first call -out was on the evening of Bug’s wedding anniversary.

Bug says: ‘We searched through a large chunk of the night before Oppo found the person at 5am.

‘The dog doing what it’s actually been trained to do is a hugely satisfying experience. I am massively proud of Oppo.

‘Dogs can cover such a huge amount of ground in a short amount of time and by clearing the area, we save time. Operational dogs are incredible.’

However, the pandemic has sadly made the team busier than ever.

‘We have had 150 call outs this year and my team has attended 102 of those so far. Oppo and I have been to 60 of those,’ explains Bug.

‘Normally, a third of the people we search for have dementia or Alzheimer’s.

‘Another third is due to suicide or despondent feelings and then the last third is a mixed group of missing children or peope suffering with other issues.

‘But this year, 99 per cent has been due to suicide or despondent feelings.

‘It reflects the mental health of the nation and it can be quite hard on the team.’

Coronavirus has also halted the dogs’ training programme, so the four-legged rescuers have experienced stagnated progress or have regressed.

‘We have all different types of dogs coming through – a sprocker, a Labrador, another springer,’ says Bug.

‘I love watching Oppo work. He’s nine-and-a-half now and I have recently got a new springer puppy who I will train too.

‘There is a mix of people in our team of men and women. I am probably the grandad of the group. The youngest person is in their 20s.’

Like many charities, lockdown has impacted their fundraising efforts.

‘Our fundraising events have been massively restricted or not happened at all. Normally we are outside supermarkets shaking tins or have our own events.

‘We are a charity and receive no government funding.

‘We raise most of our funds ourselves but also receive money from some grants.

‘For example, a harness costs £35 and once you add the lights to it you’re looking at £80.

‘Oppo goes through one of them a year because he is a strong, working dog.

‘We provide basic clothing for our handlers but they have to provide their own boots.’

It takes dedication and commitment to be an operational dog handler, but Bug finds it incredibly rewarding.

He says: ‘My biggest reward is doing something for the community, giving something back and helping getting people back to their loved ones.

‘It’s always a great result if you can reunite people.

‘But even if the person is dead, at least they can be laid to rest with their family.

‘The sustainability of the team is an issue we are concerned about. It relies on volunteers.’

When the mighty duo aren’t searching wild terrains or training, Bug runs adventure expeditions at home and abroad for young people while Oppo enjoys lying by the fire and playing with his favourite toys.

‘All of our operational dogs are family pets too and live inside the home.

‘But when my phone starts honking and he gets his harness on, we go out in all weathers together to get the job done,’ says Bug, smiling.

‘Oppo still works like a young puppy.

‘It’s still all about the game – he works to get the toy.’

Looking to the future, Bug hopes more people will be encouraged to support the Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs team.

For more information and to donate to the team, go to hsardogs.uk.