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Pets Saving Lives

Family pets with a special calling. These specially trained search and rescue dogs and their volunteer handlers risk everything to help find Northern Ireland鈥檚 missing people.

Someone is reported missing every 90 seconds in the UK, and across the country there are hundreds of volunteer search and rescue groups on hand to support the emergency services in their quest to find each missing person.

In this documentary, we meet SARDA IN (Search and Rescue Dog Association, Ireland North), a team of amazing volunteers and their even more incredible dogs.

The volunteer dog handlers are ordinary people with everyday jobs, from paramedics to engineers. Every dog is first and foremost a much-loved family pet, but together they鈥檙e on standby, ready to help when needed.
We meet all breeds of dogs, from border collies and labradors to Dutch herders and American coonhounds, including some rescued dogs that have now become the rescuers.

Each dog has been through a rigorous training programme in their specialised discipline, from air-scenting mountain search to cadaver victim recovery, and is ready, 24/7, to respond to a call-out from the emergency services.

We have a front row seat as the team quickly respond, helping the emergency services and other volunteer groups find their missing person. And we learn more about what makes a great search and rescue dog and the passion and commitment required to be a volunteer on a search and rescue team.

7 months left to watch

28 minutes

Signed Audio described

Credits

Role Contributor
Executive Producer Jannine Waddell
Executive Producer David Cumming
Producer Maggi Gibson
Director Ally Thompson
Production Company Waddell Media

Broadcasts

  • Mon 26 Aug 2024 22:30
  • Tue 27 Aug 2024 22:00
  • Fri 25 Oct 2024 19:30
  • Fri 25 Oct 2024 20:00
  • Fri 25 Oct 2024 20:30
  • Thu 31 Oct 2024 03:35
  • Fri 1 Nov 2024 00:10