Working animals bale out and take a break from vital roles in Shropshire
It's hard work being a sniffer dog – so who can blame these industrious animals from taking a well-earned rest.
These working animals took time out from their duties to pose for a picture on bales of hay on a farm on the Shropshire border
Border collie Meg and English springer spaniel Jess are employed in the construction industry where they are specially trained to sniff out dry rot in buildings.
Their furry friends Pep, a German short-haired pointer, and Kai, a Malinois, are employed by West Midlands Fire Service to investigate the source of fires.
The quintet is completed by Ellie, a 'springador' cross-breed, who is now retired from her work with the fire service.
Meg, who is three years old, and Jess belong to Mark Doggett, who has been running his Enviro-Dogs business for three years.
Mark, 30, retrained as a dog handler after 10 years in the construction trade. On the same course was Mat Dixon, 40, who is now dog handler for West Midlands Fire Service, and the pair regularly walk their dogs together around Pattingham, near Bridgnorth.
Mark says the dogs can search a building faster and more thoroughly than a human can. And he says Jess's small stature means she can get into places that no person can reach.
They have previously been deployed at some of Britain's best-known buildings, including Bath Abbey and Devizes Castle in Wiltshire.
He added that fire rescue dogs Pep and Kai are used to investigate suspected arson attacks, sniffing out where accelerants have been used.
Don't forget you can send your pet pictures to our Star Witness gallery 'Animals that make you Smile' and you could win £100.
