Money raised in memory of beloved Sheffield pet Axel used to fund search and rescue packs

The 'pAxel' search and rescue packs were set up following the disappearance and subsequent death of German Shepherd Axel who went missing from Rother Valley Country Park earlier this year.

The eight-year-old pooch was last seen alive on January 10, with many people across Sheffield rushing to help as searches intensified.

Sadly though, his family were left devastated after his body was discovered a week later.

His death caused an outpouring of grief and support with donations totalling around £3,000 to help pay for Axel’s post mortem, a memorial bench and a brick with his name on at Thornberry Animal Sanctuary.

Some of the money has also helped fund the two pAxel packs, each of which contain various search and rescue equipment – including a high-viz vest, first aid kit, walkie talkies, and climbing rope – to aid in searches for other pets who have gone missing in the Rother Valley area.

Neil Briggs, who came up with the idea, said: “The 'pAxel' search and rescue packs were my idea when during a particularly cold, wet and miserable January afternoon search for Axel, it occured to me as I stood ankle deep in mud, alone in a remote part of the countryside with the weak winter light fading fast that none of us were equipped for this kind of search."

During the search for Axel, Neil says he realised just how much danger people were putting themselves in without the proper equipment just to reunite him with his heartbroken family.

He added: "We think of Rother Valley park as we usually see it in the summer sunshine, pleasant walks and picnics on lazy days but during that week in January, I saw the other side of the park.

"I saw a dark, cold and isolated wilderness crossed with dense woodlands, slippery embankments, deep lakes and fast flowing rivers. This was not somewhere where you wanted to end up needing any kind of assistance yourself. And so, the idea for the pAxel's arose.”

Sadly, the distribution of the packs has been halted due to Covid-19 but it is hoped they will be available for use soon.

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