NORTH Cornwall’s Police of the future got the chance to meet some of the force’s vital volunteers.

This week, Launceston Police Cadets welcomed volunteers Annie, Laurence and Karen, along with search dogs Bertie and Lyla, from Cornwall Search Dogs.

During the visit, the cadets were given a fascinating insight into how search dogs are trained to follow a specific human or dog scent over long distances and across challenging terrain. The team explained the dedication, time and commitment required to train both handlers and dogs to such a high standard.

The group’s young people even got the opportunity to see a live demonstration, with Bertie and Lyla showcasing their remarkable tracking abilities by following a scent trail and successfully locating a "missing person" in the field.

Set up in 2020 by five founders Cornwall Search Dogs is a volunteer-led charity dedicated to helping reunite missing dogs with their owners. Using highly trained tracking dogs and experienced volunteer handlers, the charity assists in locating lost dogs, often in challenging environments and difficult conditions. Their dedication, expertise and countless volunteer hours have helped bring many much-loved pets back home safely.

The organisation aims to relieve the unnecessary suffering of animals by the searching for lost dogs, and preserve and protect the health of all by saving lives by providing a dedicated and trained emergency search service consisting of appropriately trained dogs and volunteer handlers to assist and support the emergency services and voluntary rescue services in the search and rescue of missing persons in Cornwall.

Following the visit, a spokesperson from Launceston Police said: “The cadets thoroughly enjoyed the visit and would like to thank Annie, Laurence, Karen, Bertie and Lyla for giving up their time to share their knowledge and demonstrate the work carried out by the charity.”