Brave Buster sniffs out Friends for Life treat

award winners: Flight Sergeant Michael Barrow with Buster at Crufts

A HERO springer spaniel and his Shaw trainer took the honours at Crufts, when the life-saving retired sniffer dog took the Friends for Life trophy.

Nine-year-old Buster has seen five operational tours as an arms and explosive sniffer dog braving bombs and bullets.

And it was his dangerous work in detecting potentially lethal bombs which won the hearts of the public at Crufts, attracting a massive 11,663 votes.

Buster and his handler Flight Sergeant Michael Barrow (45), from Shaw but now based at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, proudly accepted the prize.

The pair have worked in some of the most hostile war zones in the world and have seen action in places including Afghanistan’s Helmand province and Iraq.

Flt Sgt Barrow’s wife, Tracy, an RAF police sergeant, has been posted to Cyprus, where Buster is due to begin a new life today.

She has already taken their two other pet dogs, Dago the German Shepherd and springer spaniel “Little Buster”, but Buster had to stay in England for Crufts.

Now he is unable to go to Afghanistan, and will be greatly missed by his handler who praised him for remaining calm under enemy fire.

A delighted Flt Sgt Barrow said: “It’s absolutely fantastic.

“There is nothing like the bond we have — he has literally saved my life.”