A bit of a sad story, Darcy, Essex's first and only Search and Rescue dog has been locked up in quarantine after helping with rescue efforts in Sumatra.

Darcy, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s search and rescue dog, will have to spend six months in quarantine after going to Indonesia to carry out life saving search and rescue work. We believe that rescue dogs should be exempt from the quarantine laws. Six months imprisonment does not seem like a fitting reward for a dog which has worked abroad to try and save lives.

It would be nice if you could show your support by signing the 10 Downing Street petition to change the laws regarding search and rescue animals.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/FreeDarcy

*You must be a British citizen or resident to sign the petition.*

Thanks,

Josh.

signed

The productive way would be to find a lage quarantine (like a country that UK has no fear of and is not afraid of Indonesia) where Darcy could spend the time working. Boredom could kill someone with the energy of a border collie.

(what I mean is that the petiton leads nowhere, quarantine rules are important)

As heson said, the rules are important.

But I do agree that rescue animals should be exempt, surely there's tests they can run on the furry thing to check if he has anything nasty instead of keeping him confined for 6 months.

*signs*

Ah, britain... home of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

Quote from VoiD :

Ah, britain... home of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

Don't forget the salmonella-ridden eggs!

You are now signed up to this petition. Thank you.

Quarantine's are in place for a reason. You can't just exempt a search and rescue dog. Silly petition...seems like another case of animal lovers/animal rights people suspending logic.

but that's one less dog not helping to save lives. it's an interesting thought. and less that 1minute spent has the form filled in.

Quote from amp88 :

Quarantine's are in place for a reason. You can't just exempt a search and rescue dog. Silly petition...seems like another case of animal lovers/animal rights people suspending logic.

What's logical about locking a dog (with its much, MUCH faster metabolism compared to humans) up for months and not locking the humans up at all?

Quote from morpha :

What's logical about locking a dog (with its much, MUCH faster metabolism compared to humans) up for months and not locking the humans up at all?

Humans aren't susceptible to the same extent as animals to particular diseases (e.g. rabies) and it's more difficult for a pet to communicate it has contracted a disease than for humans.

my fish makes me happy. Therefore it should not be quarintined. it can be disturbing for a fish to be cooped up!

I have to ask, whats the dog going to do in the coming months anyway? Maybe it wont be needed for another 6 months anyway.
Im just throwing it out there.

If a disease has an incubation period of 6 months, you have to wait 6 months, simple as that... Or do you think it's better to import what basically would become a pandemic to an already stricken area just because you didn't want one poor doggy to feel alone?

So long as its well looked after while under quarantine I don't see where the problem is.