Tributes have been paid to a Lake District mountain rescue search dog, who has died aged 14.
Rona died at home, surrounded by her family.
A statement from Lake District Mountain Rescue Searchdogs said: “I never officially retired Rona, this is mostly because she and her half-brother, Broch were graded to work as a team, it meant as she got older I could just choose the easier searches for her.
“Many will remember her as an independent feisty old lady who loved the attention of people, but less so the attention of other dogs.
“She was well known for having a piercing bark that would leave many bodies with ringing ears after a find, but despite her propensity to bark at every opportunity that wasn’t always the case, as in the beginning, she wouldn’t bark at all! After many years of dedication, we graded in November 2016.
“There are many highlights in her career, including several good finds over the years, notably an 87-year-old during storm Hector in June 2018, and a gentleman on Heron Crag in July 2021.
“We also had great international opportunities as she attended avalanche training in 2016 in Chamonix with the French police and border guards.
“As well as having the opportunity during ICAR in 2019 to, amongst other things, join me down a fairground slide with her on my knee, and negotiate a Tyrolean traverse, as part of a demonstration about working under pressure.
Snow was definitely her favorite place and she became quite infamous on the winter courses, for not taking the easy route and going through the door like every other dog, but picking up where the scent was strongest and usually digging straight through the ceiling, even if that took over half an hour, finally breaking through and falling on the poor unsuspecting body inside.
“I was touched when one of the Norwegian assessors said ‘That’s the dog I want to find me!’ if they were ever avalanched.
“I have to say an enormous thank you to all the people involved in her career. From all the bodies who might be slightly deafer, to the assessors, who demonstrated unbelievable patience during training, and the many other people that make this association great. And to Millcroft Vets for their love, care and professionalism.”
Lake District Mountain Rescue Searchdogs is completely funded by donations. To donate, visit https://lakes-searchdogs.org/donate/
People can also buy a well-earned coffee for a search dog team that has been out all night, donate to the social fund at buymeacoffee.com/doglovers
