Lake District Mountain Rescue have made the announcement that Rona passed away.

The charity took to social media to say that Rona passed away a week ago at home with her family aged 14.

The post paid tribute to a “independent feisty old lady” who preferred the attention to people over other dogs.

Never officially retired, Rona continued to work because she and her half-brother, Broch were graded to work as a team, it meant as she got older she could be chosen the easier searches.

In the social media post it stated: “She was well known for having a piercing bark that would leave many bodies with ringing ears after a find, but despite her propensity to bark at every opportunity that wasn’t always the case, as in the beginning, she wouldn’t bark at all.

“After many years of dedication, we graded in November 2016.”

The charity highlighted notable moments in her career, including several good finds over the years, such as her rescue of an 87-year-old during storm Hector in June 2018, and a gentleman on Heron Crag in July 2021.

There were also international opportunities as she attended avalanche training in 2016 in Chamonix with the French police and border guards.

As well as having the opportunity during ICAR in 2019 to, amongst other things, join me down a fairground slide with her on my knee, and negotiate a Tyrolean traverse, as part of a demonstration about working under pressure.

According to the LDMR snow was ‘definitely her favorite place and she became quite infamous on the winter courses’.

The charity thanked all the people who had been a part of Rona’s career and life.

To donate and help train search dogs Like Rona please donate here, as the charity is totally funded by your donations.

Or you can buy a well-earned coffee for a search dog team that has been out all night here.