The only rescue dog
Tom is the only dog of the Special Rescue Squadron and has been living in Armenia for 8 years now. It is a rather expensive dog and is the French rescuers' gift to Armenia. Besides Tom, the Armenian Rescue Service has three other dogs and the last of them died two years ago.
Tom doesn't go anywhere without an instruction from Special Investigator-Kinolog Lilit Ghazaryan. Lilit has trained the dog all the skills that a rescue dog needs to have. Together they have taken part in many rescue efforts and have found people. According to Ghazaryan, rescue dogs work up to 10 years and since Tom is already 9 years old, he will have to go on pension. "They don't have the right to work after that because like people, they also lose capability to work," says Lilit.
Unlike her, commander of the Special Rescue Squadron, Deputy Colonel Avetis Manukyan informed that the team is not planning to send Tom on pension as long as the dog doesn't have a replacement. "Despite the age, our dog walked 25 km with us in Vardenis and demonstrated all of his abilities," said the deputy colonel.
The commander says finding new dogs is not a priority because rescue dogs are not in high demand in Armenia. The last time the Armenian Rescue Service needed a rescue dog was a year ago. In addition, they are rather expensive. Avetis Manukyan says the price of one dog is 15,000 dollars.
"Rescue dogs are considered to be the trained dogs that can ensure 75% of outcome," says Manukyan.
Although Manukyan didn't mention a specific period, he expressed hope that they will be able to procure the dogs' puppies.
