Hero dog gets bravery medal

An army dog has been given the animal equivalant of the Victoria Cross for bravery, after finding deadly roadside bombs in Afghanistan.

Treo, the eight year old black labrador is to get the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Dickin Medal from Princess Alexandra.

He sniffed out improvised explosive devices (IDEs)  hidden by Taliban forces on two separate occasions while patrolling with his handler Sgt Dave Heyhoe.

The canine has now retired from duty as a millitary dog and is now being kept as a family pet by Sgt Heyhoe.

Wonder dog

"Treo truly is a wonder dog. Without his work in Afghanistan, there is no doubt soldiers would have suffered serious injuries and could have died if the IEDs had exploded," he said

Major Graham Shannon, Officer Commanding, 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, said the military working dogs played a vital role in their patrols detecting explosive devices.

“Treo’s nose kept my soldiers safe from the roadside bombs planted by the Taliban to maximise injuries and deaths among troops. 

"The dogs themselves show enormous amounts of courage doing this work every day, and on many occasions, under attack."

Treo was deployed as part of 104 Military Working Dogs Support Unit.  There are currently around 1,000 dogs working in the millitary.