AssetID: 54560102
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Now Sit, Sherlock! London's Longest Serving Fire Dog Officially Retires
Caption: London Fire Brigade’s longest-serving Fire Investigation dog, Sherlock, has officially reached a well-earned retirement after an incredible 12-year career. Working Cocker Spaniel Sherlock, born in 2012, joined the Brigade at just ten weeks old, showing a natural aptitude for his future role. In 2013, Sherlock became a fully certified Fire Investigation dog, working alongside his handler, Group Commander Paul Osborne. Sherlock is the Brigade’s longest-serving dog and has had a distinguished career that has seen him aid firefighters at numerous incidents, including the tragic 2017 Grenfell fire. He has even met royalty when earning an animal achievement award, and published his own book. In recent years, he transitioned into the role of Brigade ambassador, actively promoting fire safety and prevention at community events. London Fire Brigade selects its specialist fire investigation dogs at a young age, identifying candidates based on their strong drive to play. Sherlock underwent rigorous positive reinforcement training, which rewards him with a tennis ball each time he detects an ignitable substance. He is trained to identify the presence of up to 10 ignitable liquids, ranging from acetone to petrol, whether neat, evaporated, mixed or burnt. Sherlock’s handler, Group Commander Paul Osborne, said: “Following an illustrious and decorated career, Sherlock will be stepping down from LFB. He has been working at the Brigade for 12 years, and in that time has been influential in maintaining our dog handling capability way beyond his tenure as well as showing the other dogs the ropes.” Now retired, Sherlock will enjoy a well-deserved rest at home with his handler Paul, who has cared for him throughout his career. The Brigade’s agreement with the London Retired Police Dogs Trust (LRPD) will provide financial support for Sherlock in his golden years. “In dog years, Sherlock is 100 years old, so it’s only fitting for him to hang up his boots now and take a well-earned break,” Paul added. “He’ll enjoy a relaxed retirement filled with naps on the sofa, his favourite walks and plenty of belly rubs.” In addition to the Grenfell Tower fire, other serious incidents he has attended include a serious fire in Tottenham that injured two firefighters and a murder investigation in New Malden. His keen nose made him instrumental in assisting fire investigators throughout his 12 years’ service. The Brigade’s Fire Investigation team has two other skilled dogs, eight-year-old Simba and three-year-old Smokey, who remain in service continuing their dedicated work to communities both within and outside of the London Fire Brigade area. On average, fire investigation dogs serve for around 10 years and undergo annual training refreshers to ensure their skills remain sharp.
Keywords: sherlock,london fire brigade,grenfell,feature,photo,video,dogs,animals
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