Publications

• Dogs with Jobs – Merrily Weisbord & Kim Kachanoff D.V.M. isbn 0-671-04735-3
• Readers Digest – December 2000
• The Service Dog – Issue No 16,19, 21 & 22
• Arson Intelligence Newsletters Issue 6 & 14
• Brigade Guardian February 1999 Issue 16
• The Labrador Retriever Club Year Book 1997
• Fire Prevention Issue 303 Oct 1997 & 317 Feb. 1999
• Brandschutz Issue 51 July 1997
• Gundogs - Issue 15 June 1997
• Dogs Monthly – Vol 15 No 12 Dec. 1997
• Dog Training Weekly No 36 September 1996
• All About Dogs Vol. 1 issue 4
• Firepower issue 54 June 1996
• Pol Cant (France) No 33 December 1998
• Police Dogs World-Wide Contacts 12 Nov.1999
• Emergency Services Review

Television Appearances

• How Do They Do That – Eamon Holmes – Reg Grundy Productions 1997
• Dogs With Dumbar 1996
• Amazing Animals – Japan – 30th September 2001
• London Today 20th March 2000
• London Tonight 20th March 2000

Radio Programmes

• BBC World Service – New Ideas February 1997 (Programme broadcast to the English speaking world)

Star 1995 - 2008

We are extremely sad to announce the death of Star the UK's first fire investigation dog.

Star became operational in 1996 and worked alongside his handler Station Office Cliver Gregory, a fire investigator with the West Midlands Fire Investigation Department. When Clive left the Fire Service in 2001 to start his own company, Star was at his side in the private sector for a further six years.

Star had a successful and rewarding career and was deployed in excess of six hundred fire scene investigations including incidents of murder by fire and fraudulent arson.

Star was always a wonderful ambassador for working dogs and during his happy working life was demonstrated to many hundreds of Fire, Police and allied professionals from around the world. His appearances on television, radio programmes and articles in magazines and journals made Star somewhat famous. Early scepticism melted away and Star's success encouraged many other authorities to evaluate the contribution K9 accelerant detection could make to the investigation of suspicious fires. Star was a true pioneer and today there are Fire Investigation dogs working the length and breadth of the nation.

Tributes to Star have been received from around the world.

A personal word from his handler - "When Start and I started out together there was enormous pressure on us to succeed - Star did everything I ever asked of him with great enthusiasm - he was a highly skilled gentle dog with a tremendous personality and a constant desire to succeed - we were far more than a team, we were the best of friends and I miss him so much now that he is no longer at my side - Although my work continues with my new dog Trooper, Star has his place in Fire Service history and will never be forgotton" Clive Gregory