Perthshire sniffer dog and hanndler head for Olympic Park

Mar 25 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

CARSE of Gowrie man Ron Anderson and his sniffer dog George are poised to begin important duties for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

From Tuesday, the talented German wired haired pointer will be sniffing out potentially deadly trouble at the Olympic Park in the lead-up, during and after the 2012 Olympics.

Ron, a recently retired police force dog instructor at Tayside Police, has been employed by International Security firm G4S to work with seven-year-old George, a fully operational explosives search dog who has considerable experience at events and venues requiring the highest level of security.

George searched for explosives at the G8 event at Gleneagles, Balmoral Castle, Crathie Church, Birkhall and other high-profile venues over his six years as an operational police dog.

The handsome dog’s destiny could have been so different.

Ron explained: “George came from a couple in Forfar who had a baby. They decided they couldn’t cope with a young energetic dog and a baby so they gifted George to Tayside Police.

“I’ve worked with George since he went to Tayside Police and when I retired he was retired to me.

“He has a number of attributes which make him such a good sniffer dog.

“He has a great temperament and cracking search abilities which most gundogs possess, and nothing fazes him, which is a must when doing explosives searching.”

Ron retired after 33 years police service, 22 years of which were as a dog handler. He said he was looking forward to his and George’s Olympic challenge.

“I’ve done explosives searches since 1986 and the Olympics will be really interesting,” he declared.

Also going to London with Ron is his young black Labrador Angus, who is being training to take over when George retires, probably after his Olympics duties.

Ron is adamant, however, that George is assured a luxurious retirement at his Grange home.

“He’s been with me for six years and there is no way I would part with him,” he said.