Mountain dog receives an award for more than 200 rescues in 11 years of service

A RETIRED search dog who was thought to be the UK’s longest operational mountain rescue dog is being acknowledged for her service.

Skye, a border collie, carried out 200 searches over her 11-year career in the Lake District before retiring in 2020 at the age of 14.

Skye will be awarded the PDSA Order of Merit, sometimes known as a ‘animal OBE’, for her efforts.

Skye and her handler, John Leadbetter, 49, searched for missing individuals in all weathers during her service.

The dedicated canine started her career as a puppy with the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team. She then worked with Duddon and Furness MRT as

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