Rufus was our first conservation detection dog and co-founder of CDDNI.

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In July 2024, aged 10, Rufus peacefully passed away in our arms after a very sudden cancer diagnosis. He has been a true pioneer in the conservation detection dog industry, opening the door for countless more dogs to follow in his footsteps. His journey proves that the only limitation to the use of detection dogs is our own imagination, inspiring us to push the boundaries of what is possible in conservation.   

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In his memory, we have set up "The Rufus Foundation" to offer charities and not-for-profit organisations the opportunity to use detection dog teams for their projects at a significantly reduced rate.

Rufus was a trailblazer in the field of conservation detection dogs, becoming the first dog to complete Lantra accreditation alongside Dr. Caroline Finlay. Together, they helped numerous handlers achieve Lantra accreditation.

 

Rufus set a new standard by participating in a wide range of innovative projects within a short period. His work has been showcased on The BBC, ITV, The Times, and other media outlets, and some of his achievements have been published in research papers.

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In 2020, Rufus was trained to find dead or sick red squirrels as part of an Ulster Wildlife project during a disease outbreak, becoming only the second dog in the world to do this. 

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In 2021, Rufus set a new standard for bat and bird carcass searches around wind turbines in the UK and Ireland.

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Also, in 2021, he worked on the MarPamm project. Rufus was the first dog ever to detect burrow-nesting Manx Shearwater.

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In 2023, Rufus helped with the outbreak of bedbugs in the UK and Ireland by searching hundreds of hotel rooms with minimal disruption for our clients. 

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In 2024, Rufus worked with RSPB as the lead dog on the first-ever project to find endangered Curlew nests so the eggs could be protected from predation. This was his final project, and it was featured on BBC's The One Show.

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The Rufus Foundation is committed to continuing the incredible work started by Rufus and to creating new opportunities for supporting important causes. If you believe that our teams can make a difference to your project, please do not hesitate to get in touch. ​​​