1446 days ago

The special bond between a search and rescue handler and their dog

Jake Kenny Reporter from Community News

Hi neighbours,

Emma Milburn​ and Dart have been a search and rescue tag team for nearly a decade.

But as bearded border collie Dart, 13, gets older, she soon faces retirement, bringing an end to the special career shared between her and her handler.

The pair have been through a lot together. Milburn did all of Dart’s search and rescue training herself, pretty much everyday for eight years straight. The time and dedication it took to train a dog to be operational in search and rescue tasks was often overlooked, Milburn said.

Please click 'Read more' below for the full story.

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More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10.6% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10.6% Complete
  • 21% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    21% Complete
  • 68.4% Nah - not for me
    68.4% Complete
405 votes
8 days ago

Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!

Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?

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Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
  • 78.8% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
    78.8% Complete
  • 21.2% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
    21.2% Complete
1303 votes
1 day ago

Response to regifting presents

Gordon from Halswell

My mind tends to wander:
I do not see any problem with regifting it back to the person who gave it, they obviously liked it. In fact, that might work out well as you buy the present you want, then gift it to someone you know who will gift it back.
Perfect, no decision needs to be made about Xmas presents