Treo (dog)

Treo (c. 2001) is a black Labrador Retriever and a retired explosives detection dog with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. He was awarded the Dickin Medal (considered the equivalent of a Victoria Cross for animals) in February 2010. The military nominated Treo for the award in recognition of his help uncovering a series of Taliban bombs during his time serving in Helmand Province, an insurgency hot spot, in 2008. The Labrador is the medal's 63rd recipient.

Early life
Treo was donated to the army because of his general misbehavior and inclination to snapping and growling at people. His former owners' hopes were that the army would straighten him out. He began a 12 week training course at the Defence Animal Centre after which he was deployed to Northern Ireland for three years with his first handler. When his first handler left the Army, Sgt Dave Heyhoe took over control of Treo.

Service in Afghanistan
In 2008, Treo and his handler Sgt Dave Heyhoe were deployed to Afghanistan becoming one of 25 dogs supporting British troops there. On 1 August 2008, Treo found an improvised explosive device, called a daisy chain because of the way multiple explosive devices are wired together, concealed by the Taliban along the side of a path. In September 2008 he found a second daisy chain, both times saving the lives of British soldiers as well as civilians. He retired in August 2009 and was awarded the Dickin Medal in February 2010 at the Imperial War Museum in London.