30 Jul 2006 - Collapsed Structure Assessments
On Sunday, 30th July 2006, two of the team's search dogs and handlers underwent their Collapsed Structure Assessments and passed!
Meg and Titan, both Border Collies, underwent the assessments in Caithness Stone Quarry nr Thurso and at a former military base nr Dounreay under the scrutiny of two Police Officers and another examiner.
Both dogs successfully found all ten casualties who were concealed in hides in several scenarios during the day.
Dave Ashpool, who is Titan's handler very recently retired as a Police Constable and was, for most of his service and until his retirement, a Dog Handler.
Stuart Ballantyne, who is Meg's handler, is a Police Sergeant who has been involved in training and working search dogs for 12 years now.
Both men worked at the Stockline Plastics factory incident with these two dogs in May 2004, alongwith several other members of Trossachs SAR Team, the UK Fire Service Dog Teams and Dr David and his dog Dynamite, from SARDA Lake District.
Meg and Titan, both Border Collies, underwent the assessments in Caithness Stone Quarry nr Thurso and at a former military base nr Dounreay under the scrutiny of two Police Officers and another examiner.
Both dogs successfully found all ten casualties who were concealed in hides in several scenarios during the day.
Dave Ashpool, who is Titan's handler very recently retired as a Police Constable and was, for most of his service and until his retirement, a Dog Handler.
Stuart Ballantyne, who is Meg's handler, is a Police Sergeant who has been involved in training and working search dogs for 12 years now.
Both men worked at the Stockline Plastics factory incident with these two dogs in May 2004, alongwith several other members of Trossachs SAR Team, the UK Fire Service Dog Teams and Dr David and his dog Dynamite, from SARDA Lake District.