AFTER more than a decade of sniffing out danger and saving lives, Jarvis, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service's search and rescue dog, is retiring at the age of 11 — or 77 in human years.

From his humble beginnings as a mischievous puppy to a top canine for the National Resilience Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team and UK International Search and Rescue Team (ISAR), Jarvis' career has been nothing short of pawsome.

Jarvis has been called upon for some of the most challenging and high-profile rescue operations of his career. His most notable deployments include his deployment to Jersey in January 2023, following a devastating explosion at a block of flats, where 12 people went missing.

In July 2020, Jarvis was deployed to the Bow crane collapse in London, where he was the only dog small enough to navigate the wreckage and fit through the jib of the crane to search the rear upstairs of the property. As well as searching debris of a wall collapse at Lewes Castle in 2019.

It's not just about searching for and finding casualties; it's also about wrapping up large-scale incidents efficiently. This helps free up emergency service resources, sometimes worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, so they can be put to use elsewhere.

Jarvis' unique ability to search for live human scent, coupled with his remarkable determination, made him an invaluable asset to the team. His handler, Graham Currie, a dedicated member of the Service, shared his admiration for Jarvis, calling him "my best pal."

Graham added: "I am with him 365 days a year. The number of places I've been to and people I've met has been all because of him. He's got to have trust and faith in me, and I have that in him."

Jarvis has worked tirelessly on training assignments in Sicily, where he spent 10 days searching under extreme conditions, as well as Germany and Paris during ISAR exercises. He has also been involved in snow potential avalanche training in Scotland and undergone helicopter training for specialised rescues.

As a working dog, Jarvis was always known for his boundless energy. Once trained, however, he became one of the most effective and methodical search dogs in the field.

While Jarvis' days of active deployments are behind him, he will continue to be a part of the team in his retirement. His handler Graham said: "When he retires, he will still come out with me, but he won't be deployed on jobs. He'll stay in the van and continue training. Otherwise, left at home he would die of a broken heart".

Jarvis' calm demeanour and ability to bring comfort to people at incidents have made him a cherished figure, not only for his skills in search and rescue but also for the emotional support he provides. His legacy as a working dog will live on in the hearts of all those who had the privilege of working alongside him.

Speaking at Jarvis' retirement presentation, Graham thanked his family, who have supported him throughout Jarvis' career. Graham said: "I'd like to thank my wife, Annette, and my daughter, Rebecca, and my son, Dan who have been unsung heroes. They've helped with Jarvis and all the dogs if I've been away working but also often laying in rubble and filthy hides for hours during training".

While Jarvis may be hanging up his ECFRS collar, his impact will be felt for years to come. From rescues in rubble to international training exercises, Jarvis has exemplified the bond between handler and dog, proving time and time again that a well-trained K9 is truly irreplaceable in life-saving missions.