Avalanche Search Dog Milly Retires

Avalanche Search Dog Milly Retires

Thursday 25 September 2014

After 10 years of active service in the Treble Cone Ski Patrol, avalanche search dog Milly is set to retire this weekend, at the close of the 2014 snow season the South Island’s largest ski area Treble Cone (Wanaka, New Zealand).

Milly who turns 13 (human) years old on the 2nd of October, is a pedigree Labrador who owner and handler Brendan 'Doons' Kearns took on as a 3 year old pup back in 2004 that had been identified as having the traits of a great search dog. Following a year of training, Milly became qualified as an operational avalanche search dog 10 years ago, and has worked every winter on the mountain since. For the last 3 years Milly has achieved the even higher distinction of an 'advanced' avalanche search dog.

The Aspiring Avalanche Dogs which Milly is a member of, respond to incidents across the entire Southern Lakes region and potentially as far north as Mt Cook. Throughout Milly's 10 years of active service she has attended to eight incidents in the Southern Lakes region, and confirmed all eight potential incident sites as 'cleared'.

Additionally throughout her career, on a day in, day out basis Milly has helped promote backcountry awareness.

"As soon as we met Milly for the first time, it was apparent that she had great drive and an awesome temperament, which has made her one of the top avalanche search dogs over the last decade" commented Matt Gunn who is the coordinator of Aspiring Avalanche Dogs.

Milly is one of 10 active avalanche search dogs in New Zealand. Following her retirement this weekend, in 2015 Treble Cone hopes to have Rocket who's handled by Matt Gunn, Zeffer who's handled by Callum Grant, and Tuki who's handled by Andy Wardell on the mountain to continue the great work which Milly has been a key part of.

Whilst Milly is unlikely to take up golf, her retirement will not be too different to many other local retirees, and will include many walks and swims along the shores of Lake Wanaka.

ENDS

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