Tribute tattoo created with ashes of Sergeant’s Army sniffer dog

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A WAR hero has had a tattoo created using the ashes of his beloved Army sniffer dog – as a tribute for keeping him and his pals alive in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Dave Heyhoe said the design of Treo's paw on his leg is the ultimate tribute to a pet that 'never left his side'.

Dave, from Congleton, has previously written a book about their work together – searching for bombs left by the Taliban.

Known to his fellow soldiers as 'The Dog Whisperer', Dave and Treo were sent forwards, alone and unprotected, to detect the regime's murderous improvised explosive devices.

His black labrador ended up as the world's most decorated Army dog, being awarded the Dickin Medal for Gallantry – known as the animal version of the Victoria Cross.

The 46-year-old, who left the Army in 2010 after serving for 24 years in the Cheshire and Royal Army Veterinary Corps, said: "When he died, it was like losing a person.

"But now he still lives on and nobody will forget him. I just wish he could have literally lived forever."

Now the author of It's All About Treo: Life and War with the World's Bravest Dog, is hoping a film will be made about Treo's life – and has been to Australia for meetings about its potential production.

Dave, along with wife Rachel, 42, and their three children Ellie-Anne, aged four, Oliver, 10, and Thomas, 12, are also calling for a memorial to the dogs who have served the armed forces.

"People said it should be dedicated to Treo, but I want it to be about all service animals," he said. "All dogs doing this are heroes."

Dave took over from Treo's previous handler in 2005. In 2008 the pair were deployed to Afghanistan, where Treo uncovered two 'daisy-chain' IEDs made of bombs wired together and planted by the Taliban in Helmand Province.

When Dave retired, Treo left and lived as his handler's pet until his death in October last year aged 14. He decided to have the tattoo imprinted on his leg, after talking to tattoo artist and friend Paul Cutler, of Congleton-based Bubblegum Ink. They have just completed the tattoo, which involved sprinkling the cremated ashes of the bomb-disposal dog into ink. Then a tribute poem was penned onto his calf, along with an exact replica of Treo's paw print.

Paul, aged 44, from Sandbach, who works at Bubblegum Ink, said: "The design took about two-and-a-half hours to complete.

"It was quite a lot of pressure because I know Dave, and also knew Treo personally. My dogs used to play with him. I think it was a respectful way to pay tribute.

"And using ashes from an animal is fine, because it is organic. It was quite a hard one to do but the end result was exactly as we wanted – the ultimate memorial."

Tattoo artist Leeanna Littleton also helped with the design. The 31-year-old, from Sneyd Green, said: "It was a fantastic concept and idea.

"It is a very personal and touching tribute."

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February 17, 2016