AWARDS for dogs, used in the rescue operation following the Armenian earthquake in Colombia, have come as the 'icing on the cake' for Okehampton-based rescue charity Rapid UK.
Lucy and Elliot, who were trained by Rapid UK, were awarded gold medals on Monday at the Pro Dogs of the Year event held at the Hilton Hotel in Cobham, Surrey.
The dogs tucked into a turkey lunch alongside their owners Sharon Gillam and Chris Pritchard after the presentation.
The citation read: 'for unselfish duties in crisis situations overseas in identifying and directing rescuers to those trapped in the Armenian earthquake in Colombia.'
Director of Rapid UK Graham Payne, said: 'This is the icing on the cake — it has finished off what has been a fantastic year for us in one way another.'
As well as assisting in Colombia, the charity was involved in rescue missions following earthquakes in Turkey and Taiwan earlier this year and is now busy setting up Rapid rescue groups all over the world.
The dogs, who were the first rescue dogs from the UK to attend disasters overseas, were quarantined for six months on their return from Columbia. Local people helped to fund the cost of £3,000.
Mr Payne is currently trying to get the quarantine laws relaxed so rescue dogs Gemma and Kelly, who went to Turkey in August, can return to the UK.
He said although Scandinavian quarantine laws were the same as the UK, search and rescue dogs were allowed in and out of the country without having to go through six months quarantine providing they had all the necessary checks.