Fire investigation dog sisters hang up their detective boots after 126 years loyal service

Two fire investigation dogs have retired after helping secure convictions against "dozens" of criminals. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's search dogs Saxon, 11, and her sister Inca, ten, are hanging up their boots after a total of 18 years, or 126 dog years, loyal service.

The two Labradors have attended more than 500 incidents. Graham Howlett, the dogs' handler, said: "It's a pleasure to work with such talented lovely-natured dogs. I'm so proud of what they have achieved. We have done jobs where the evidence they have found has been instrumental in getting a conviction."

In 2010, both dogs identified an ignitable fluid at a house fire, showing that petrol had been poured through the letterbox. The man responsible was jailed for endangering life. Fire investigation dogs are trained to work out how fires started by using their sense of smell to hunt for traces of the flammable liquids used to start fires.
The dogs are able to smell one drop of petrol as far away as the length of a football pitch. Saxon has been with the service for more than ten years while Inca, her younger sister, has served eight years. Graham and his wife Jo are to take in the two dogs for their retirement.