Since being established in Sudbury in 1990, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s canine services unit has more than proved its worth, recovering evidence, tracking humans and protecting their handlers.
Today, two of the unit’s dogs — Tanner, a 10-year-old male retriever mix, and Cinder, a nine-year-old female black lab — were retired, destined to live out the remainder of their days in comfort and relaxation with the handlers they’ve lived and worked with for the past eight years.
Both animals have a Northern Ontario connection.
Tanner was rescued from a shelter in Greater Sudbury and was trained along with his handler in 2008. The team worked out of the Bancroft MNRF office and served eastern Ontario since that time.
Cinder was purchased from a breeder in the Barrie area and was also trained with her handler in 2008. The team worked out of the North Bay MNRF office and served northeastern Ontario since that time.
Tanner and Cinder were trained as General Police Service dogs. Over the years, the dogs responded to thousands of calls, receiving numerous accolades over the years, including a lifesaving award for locating a lost elderly hiker and letters of commendation from various external stakeholders and agencies.
Tanner and Cinder received honorary badges during a ceremony in Sudbury.
