Treo (dog)
Encyclopedia
Treo is a 9-year-old black Labrador Retriever
and a retired explosives detection dog
with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
. He was awarded the Dickin Medal
(considered the equivalent of a Victoria Cross
for animals) in February 2010. The military nominated Treo for the award in recognition of his help uncovering a series of Taliban bombs during his time serving in Helmand Province
, an insurgency hot spot, in 2008. The Labrador is the medal's 63rd recipient.
after which he was deployed to Northern Ireland for three years with his first handler.
When his first handler left the Army, Sgt Dave Heyhoe took over control of Treo.
becoming one of 25 dogs supporting British troops there. On 1 August 2008, Treo found an improvised explosive device
, called a daisy chain because of the way multiple explosive devices are wired together, concealed by the Taliban along the side of a path. In September 2008 he found a second daisy chain, both times saving the lives of British soldiers as well as civilians. He retired in August 2009 and was awarded the Dickin Medal in February 2010.
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
and a retired explosives detection dog
Detection dog
A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to and works at using its senses to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, or blood. Hunting dogs that search for game and search dogs that search for missing humans are generally not considered detection dogs...
with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
The Royal Army Veterinary Corps is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and care of animals. It is a small but technically competent corps forming part of the Army Medical Services...
. He was awarded the Dickin Medal
Dickin Medal
The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown and pale blue...
(considered the equivalent of a Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for animals) in February 2010. The military nominated Treo for the award in recognition of his help uncovering a series of Taliban bombs during his time serving in Helmand Province
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
, an insurgency hot spot, in 2008. The Labrador is the medal's 63rd recipient.
Early Life
Treo was donated to the army because of his general misbehavior and inclination to snapping and growling at people. His former owners' hopes were that the army would straighten him out. He began a 12 week training course at the Defence Animal CentreDefence Animal Centre
The Defence Animal Centre is a training centre, based in Melton Mowbray, east Leicestershire, that trains animals for all three armed forces. It is also of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. The DAC now comes under command of the Royal School of Military Engineering.-History:The Army moved in in...
after which he was deployed to Northern Ireland for three years with his first handler.
When his first handler left the Army, Sgt Dave Heyhoe took over control of Treo.
Service in Afghanistan
In 2008, Treo and his handler Sgt Heyhoe were deployed to AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
becoming one of 25 dogs supporting British troops there. On 1 August 2008, Treo found an improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
, called a daisy chain because of the way multiple explosive devices are wired together, concealed by the Taliban along the side of a path. In September 2008 he found a second daisy chain, both times saving the lives of British soldiers as well as civilians. He retired in August 2009 and was awarded the Dickin Medal in February 2010.