By Richard Burdge

A MOUNTAIN rescue dog from Perth is featured on the Royal Mail’s latest special edition stamps.

Merrick, an eight-year-old cross-bred Labrador, showed off his skills in the snow high above the Glenshee ski centre yesterday to launch the stamps which celebrate the great work done by man’s best friend.

The dog and his owner, Lynne Warden, from Perth, are members of the Search and Rescue Dog Association Southern Scotland and frequently take to the hills to help find and rescue stricken mountaineers and walkers.

Lynne said, “It really is wonderful to see Merrick featured on a Royal Mail stamp.

“It is also a great boost for all the dedicated volunteers who help train and handle search and rescue dogs in Scotland and across the UK to have our work recognised in this way.

“The stamps look great and I am very proud that Merrick was chosen to represent search and rescue dogs.”

The special stamp edition is the first to be entirely devoted to highly trained working dogs. The set of six stamps consist of assistance dog, mountain rescue dog, police dog, customs dog, sheep dog and guide dog.

Merrick features on the 46p stamp which can be used to send basic mail anywhere in the world.

Ian McKay, Royal Mail’s director of Scottish Affairs, said, “The search and rescue dog associations across the whole of the country do fantastic work.

“This special stamp edition also celebrates the ‘secret army’ of thousands of hardworking dogs who make a real difference to so many people’s lives.

“I hope that this issue will help raise the profile of their important work as customers see the dogs on millions of letters and parcels every day.”