China
18:39, 22-Jul-2017
Heart-melting recruitment: Labrador puppy joins fire brigade for search and rescue training
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A fire brigade in southwest China welcomed its youngest crew member – a 52-day-old dark Labrador retriever – on Tuesday.
Photo via theCover.cn
Photo via theCover.cn
Born with six elder siblings in May, the young female canine was previously owned by a couple, Xiao Yangjie and Luo Man from Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
Photo via theCover.cn
Photo via theCover.cn
Xiao and Luo got in touch with the local fire brigade last Sunday, admitted they were touched by the news where well-trained dogs joined rescue efforts during Sichuan’s deadly landslide in June. They offered to register one of the seven new born Labradors to contribute to life-saving career.
Photo via theCover.cn
Photo via theCover.cn
The local firefight department, informed about the dogs’ breed and health condition, agreed to receive the young Labrador. On Tuesday morning, deputy captain of the squadron Guo Yang and rescue dog trainer Hu Yanyi arrived at the couple’s house.
Photo via theCover.cn
Photo via theCover.cn
The couple first introduced the second youngest Labrador. But it showed no interest being around the two from the brigade. It was the youngest one – a sharp, bold and curious little girl – who tamely circled around Hu, ran to the stranger at his call. The couple then decided to send her into the trainer’s hand.
The cute little one left its mom “Jungan’er” and her siblings in a short ceremony.
Photo via theCover.cn
Photo via theCover.cn
Seeing the young little one off, Luo worried she’d be kicked off the team if she failed the test. Hu the trainer promised that once “entered into the force,” this young one will be treated like a comrade, gaining sufficient training to become an eligible search and rescue dog. “She’d become a heroic rescuer,” said Hu.
China’s search and rescue dogs are registered with the military organizational establishment, China News Agency quoted Duan Chaohua, captain of a Yunnan firefighting squadron at a dog training base, as saying. They are usually picked and trained from the age of six months.
It takes these cadets one to two years of stringent practice to become search and rescue team members in the field. After passing tests, the heroic dogs stay five to six years in brigades, receiving annual training during service. Once retired, they’re taken care of in the military, if not adopted by their handlers, trainers or citizens.