Fire detective Reqs puts his paws up after more than a decade's service
Happy retirement to Reqs, described as Britain’s “longest-serving fire investigation dog”, who stepped down from the service last week.
The adorable black Lab has used his impeccable sense of smell to detect accelerants like petrol in the scenes of fires for almost 11 years. And he’s attended around 500 incidents since joining Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service as a one-year-old in 2012.
Together with fire investigators such as his handler Watch Commander Nikki Harvey, he has also uncovered crucial evidence in high-profile investigations, including crimes such as arson and even murder.
Clever Reqs has also amassed more than 10,000 social media followers alongside his protege Loki, who will be taking up his mantle. Now, after years of hard work, the hero dog, 11, can look forward to putting his paws up.
He’ll remain with Nikki as her pet and will still go along to community events alongside Loki, especially if it means getting to eat a few sausages from the barbecue.
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Nikki said: “I’ll miss the nice cuddles he gives at the end of a job, especially if we’ve been to an upsetting or distressing incident.
“He’s my best mate and I love him to bits. While it’s the end of an era in some ways, I’m so pleased he’ll still be around and part of our very special community – and I know that Loki will carry on doing a great job in his paw-steps.”
Farewell PD Finn
Loyal fans showered his owner's family with condolences online (PA)This week we said farewell to PD Finn, the hero police dog who won the nation’s hearts after suffering serious stab wounds while protecting his handler PC Dave Wardell from a vicious attack. The German Shepherd, who died in his sleep aged 14, won a Mirror award for his bravery during the 2016 incident in Hertfordshire, and went on to appear on Britain’s Got Talent.
Finn’s Law was also brought in to ensure harsher sentences for criminals who attack service animals. PC Wardell said: “I’m completely lost without him. I hope people remember him and that his legacy lives forever.”
Webbox pet pic
We all know about the vital work of dog and cat rescue centres, but there are other abandoned animals who need help. Tees Valley Guinea Pig Rescue launched in 2014, and takes in guinea pigs from across the North, but also from as far afield as Essex and Dundee, with animals handed in for a range of reasons, including children losing interest, allergies and landlords not allowing pets.
Mabel and FlorenceSo far, the team has rehomed more than 2,000 guinea pigs. This cute pic shows Mabel (left) and Florence, who will be helping to highlight the rescue’s work at a special “Pet A Guinea Pig” fundraiser in Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham.
Milli Greener, manager at Wilkinson’s Café, who hosted the event, said: “We have around 30 at home. We want to celebrate how wonderful guinea pigs are, and to give people an insight into what it takes to care for them.”
People's Pet Awards
Nominations are now open for the Mirror People’s Pet Awards with Webbox. We’re looking for cats, dogs and every type of pet who has saved and changed lives, rescue animals who have beaten the odds, and pets who win the hearts of people they meet.
There are also categories for people young and old who make a difference in animals’ lives. If your pet, or a pet you know, deserves an award, you can find out more and nominate them at thepeoplespetawards.co.uk.
Lila the cat was finally reunited with her family
Lila ended up with two drainage pipe parts stuck on her neck after she ventured into a building siteCuriosity got the better of this cat as she ended up not just miles from home, but in a fix after two drainage pipe parts became attached to her neck after she ventured into a building site.
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Moggie Lila was spotted by a member of the public in Gateshead – around 10 miles from her home. RSPCA inspector Ian Smith set up a cage to catch the cat before bringing her to a vet, who removed the piping. Luckily Lila was microchipped, so her owner could easily be traced.
“This was a strange rescue as at first, we didn’t know whether she was a feral cat,” said the inspector.
“As it turned out, her owner lives in Chester-le-Street, but Lila was found miles away in Gateshead. She was missing for over a week and someone spotted her.
“Lila was very unhappy as she was carrying that extra weight around her head but we got her to the vets and she’s been fine since.”
Lila was quickly reunited with her owners who were relieved to have her back, although surprised to hear of her extraordinary predicament.
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