Dog receives 'Victoria Cross'
A black Labrador has been awarded the animal equivalent of a Victoria Cross for his work sniffing out roadside bombs in Afghanistan.
Nine-year-old Treo has been awarded the Dickin Medal after a saving the lives of British soldiers by detecting improvised explosive devices in Helmand province.
His handler Sergeant Dave Heyhoe said the dog proved a particularly effective counter-insurgency weapon, reports the Daily Telegraph.
"I'm very proud indeed, not only for myself and Treo, but it's for every dog and handler that's working out in Afghanistan or Iraq," he said.
Treo, who served in Afghanistan in 2008 and is now retired, will be presented with his medal at a special ceremony at the Imperial War Museum.
He started his career at the Defence Animal Centre, based in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, when he was a year old.
Treo did 12 weeks training before he went to Northern Ireland, where he worked for three years with his first handler before Sgt Heyhoe took over.
Sgt Heyhoe explained: "Basically, me and the dog have got to get a rapport. We've got to understand each other and without that we can't be effective on the ground.
"He must know when I want him to go somewhere to search, that's where he goes.
"Everyone will say that he is just a military working dog - yes, he is, but he is also a very good friend of mine. We look after each other."
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With friends like that?
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Originally Posted by Thomas Jefferson
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