Kent search dog Millie joins Venezuela earthquake rescue efforts

A two-year-old black labrador from Kent has been deployed to Venezuela as part of the UK's humanitarian response to devastating earthquakes that struck the South American nation on 24 June.

Millie, who joined Kent Fire and Rescue Service in 2023, is making her first overseas assignment alongside five colleagues from the service. She is one of six UK search and rescue dogs working to locate survivors trapped in collapsed structures, using airborne scents to detect casualties.

The deployment is part of UK International Search and Rescue, which brings together firefighters and specialists from 14 fire services across Britain. The team, led by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, is supported by a £2 million UK government package for the humanitarian response.

Millie passed national qualifications to serve as an international search and rescue dog and has participated in overseas training exercises. Station manager Jim Chaston praised the team's efforts, whilst crew manager Stacey Irvine, working on the ground in Venezuela, said the team remains hopeful of finding trapped individuals and has been warmly welcomed by local communities.