Treo

I thought it was only fair to allocate Treo his own page on this website, both his handler and friend of mine "Dave Heyhoe" deserve more than a medal.

For us to imagine they had to lead the front line of infantry to find IED's "Bombs"
is very brave, with Taliban Snipers ready to kill either or both of them at the drop of a hat is still beyond me !

This world can be a cruel, cruel place so let us find solace with our 4 legged canine companions.

Further below is an admirers interesting Blog about the book which is quite simply " to the point ", enjoy.

Andrew Preston

" Treo " click on me for further details

I was out shopping yesterday when I saw a book that grabbed my attention; purely because it had a picture of a rather adorable looking black dog on the front cover, and it was called ‘It’s All About Treo’. I have not read a book in quite a few years. When I was at university I always felt guilty if I read anything other than a text book, so reading for pleasure took a back seat. I do not tend to read factual books; preferring to escape into a world of fantasy and fiction in preference to reading about the sex and drug fuelled world of so many so called celebrities.

I read the prologue for this book to discover it was about a dog, called Treo (obviously) and his handler, Dave, who were sent to Afghanistan to seek out explosives planted by the Taliban. Treo would use his nose to sniff out IED’S enabling them to then be disarmed in a controlled manner, thereby potentially saving the lives of hundreds of soldier, who may unwittingly stumble across these devices. It’s a heart warming book about courage, bravery and the bond that can exist between a man and his dog.

Dave explains in the book that he was never able to have children due to a low sperm count and I am not sure if he was ever married because, despite being half way through the book, he has not yet mentioned a wife. However he admits that Treo is like his own child and he would do anything to protect him from harm, even sacrificing his own life – pretty much what any parent would do for a child. Frequently when out on searches they do come under attack by snipers, who seem determined to kill Treo, recognising how valuable he is to the army and how he is a massive obstacle to them achieving their objectives – which is to blow up enemy soldiers.

Treo cannot wear any protective armour because the heat in Afghanistan is too fierce and his fur coat alone is enough to cause severe dehydration. Dave and Treo are always out in front when they are on patrol; the other soldiers stay well back until they know the area is clear of explosives. This puts both Dave and Treo in a very vulnerable position as they become easy targets for snipers. Dave states that he has to be totally focused on what his dog is doing so he can detect any changes in Treo’s body language or behaviour that suggests he has found some sort of explosive device. When he suspects Treo may have discovered something he calls him back immediately to his side, so Treo does not accidently trigger any devices that he may have uncovered.

What is also lovely is how the other soldiers in the compound develop this respect and admiration for both Treo and Dave. Obviously Treo is not aware of the important part he plays in the war effort; to him seeking and searching is much like a game he plays with his ‘dad’. If he finds something then Dave will reward Treo with the one thing he loves most in the world (second to his dad of course) and that is his green tennis ball.

I am roughly half way through the book and I know for a fact there is a happy ending because Dave and Treo are now both retired from the army and living a happy, stress free life in Cheshire. Treo has also been awarded the Dicken Medal, which is the animal version of the Victoria Cross. I just adore these types of stories which depict the incredible bonds that can exist between man and beast. I have experienced such bonds myself and I know how precious and special it can be; it’s like nothing that can exist between two human beings, or at least nothing I have experienced.

If you have a dog and you arrive home from a hard days craft at the office and your dog gets all excited, wagging his tail and jumping up at you in a vain attempt to stick his wet soggy tongue in your mouth, you know that he is genuinely pleased to see you. He won’t then turn to the cat and say, ‘The fool, can’t he see I despise him really and only play these games so I get supper and a walk?’ – No, that’s a human trait, not an animal.

One day I will get my dog and I would like one like Treo, who is a cross between a spaniel and a Labrador; two of my favourite breeds of dog. I also like Golden Retrievers; maybe I’ll get three dogs, one of each. Of course I would not get any dog unless I knew the puddy cats were going to be okay with it. As much as I love dogs I would never compromise my cat’s happiness; the little buggers. But I think as long as any dog knows and respects the fact the Mr T is the boss around these parts, it may just work.

Posted by Kim, Wed 17th Oct 2012, Whore with a Heart !

Web Link > http://whorewithaheart.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/its-all-about-treo.html