RAF sniffer dog awarded animal equivalent of Victoria Cross for Afghanistan efforts

Hertz the sniffer dog with trainer Jonathan Tanner and his medal.
Hertz and warrant officer Jonathan Tanner were recognised with the Dickin Medal at a ceremony on Tuesday (Picture: PA)
A retired sniffer dog hailed as a ‘one off’ for his pioneering work in Afghanistan has been awarded the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. Hertz was the first and so far the only dog in the British military to sniff out ‘personal electronic devices’, like mobile phones, SIM cards and GPS devices. The German shorthaired pointer became the 74th animal to receive the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Dickin Medal – the highest recognition any animal can receive in military combat – at a ceremony in London on Tuesday. His trainer and handler in Afghanistan, warrant officer Jonathan Tanner, said: ‘In terms of British military working dogs , he is a one-off.

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‘He’s very much a unique animal.’

Mr Tanner paid tribute to Hertz as ‘by far the best’ dog he’s worked with, and said that the pair became ‘best friends’.

He explained that the pair were targeting mobile devices being used to ‘pass messages and data and details to people on the outside that might pose a threat to those on the inside of camp’.

Retired RAF Police sniffer dog, Hertz, in Green Park, central London, with his People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Dickin Medal for valour, the highest award any animal can receive whilst serving in military conflict.
Born in Croatia, Hertz was taken on by the RAF as a one-year-old puppy (Picture: PA)
Former handler and trainer RAF Police Warrant Officer Jonathan Tanner with retired RAF Police sniffer dog, Hertz, in Green Park, central London, with his People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Dickin Medal for valour, the highest award any animal can receive whilst serving in military conflict.
Former handler and trainer RAF Police Warrant Officer Jonathan Tanner paid tribute to Hertz as his best friend (Picture: PA)
The Warrant Officer spent around two months training Hertz to sniff out such devices, before the dog went on to find more than 100 items.

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‘It was a capability that in the British military had never been tried before,’ Mr Tanner added.

‘It was something that we’d never even considered before.’

The technique turned out to be ‘very successful’, according to the Warrant Officer, who worked in Camp Bastion and locations throughout Helmand and Kabul over a period of 13 months.
Former handler and trainer RAF Police Warrant Officer Jonathan Tanner with retired RAF Police sniffer dog, Hertz, in Green Park, central London, with his People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Dickin Medal for valour, the highest award any animal can receive whilst serving in military conflict.
Hertz and Mr Tanner were trying to find mobile devices in Afghanistan (Picture: PA)
Former handler and trainer RAF Police Warrant Officer Jonathan Tanner with retired RAF Police sniffer dog, Hertz, in Green Park, central London, with his People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Dickin Medal for valour, the highest award any animal can receive whilst serving in military conflict. Hertz received the award after for finding more than 100 items of contraband, including drugs and Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs), all of which posed a significant threat to the lives of servicemen, women and civilians in Afghanistan. Picture date: Tuesday February 22, 2022. PA Photo. Hertz is the first dog in British military history to detect electronic communications equipment such as mobile phones, voice recorders, SIM cards and GPS devices. Photo credit should read: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire
Hertz was given the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Dickin Medal for valour (Picture: PA)

It is thought that Hertz’ detective work saved many lives.

Born in Croatia, the dog joined the RAF as a one-year-old puppy and was chosen for the special assignment after demonstrating exceptional skill in drug detecting.

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‘There were many times that one of us would be having a bad day not, enjoying ourselves as much as we possibly could, and I would take him away, put him back in his kennel at night and just sit there and have a chat like you do with your mates at the end of the day,’ Mr Tanner recalled.

‘He wasn’t very good at giving advice, but he said he certainly listened and I can tell you that he never gave me bad advice.’

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‘His exceptional skills undoubtedly protected troops from the ever-evolving advances in digital intelligence.

‘His actions changed the course of countless missions, saving the lives of military personnel and civilians.

‘For this bravery and devotion to duty, we are honoured to welcome him as the latest recipient of the PDSA Dickin Medal.’

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