Meet the Team
Honoring the Paws and People Who Paved the Way
Our current teams may be the ones out there on callouts today, but SARDA Isle of Man stands on the shoulders of the dedicated handlers and dogs who came before them. This page honours the invaluable contributions of our past teams - both human and canine - who helped build the foundation of expertise, commitment, and resilience that defines us today. Some of these incredible dogs have crossed the rainbow bridge after a lifetime of service, while others enjoy a well-earned retirement. We are forever grateful for their dedication to saving lives and shaping SARDA into the organisation it is today.
Matt Creer & Lola
Matt set up SARDA IoM in 2002 with the assistance from Handlers initially in the Lake District and then with SARDA Wales. Matt and Lola were involved in many call outs which included some finds. Without his initial vision the organisation in the Isle of Man would not exist today!
Jim MacGregor & Star
Star was the Islands first Mountain Search Dog and the team worked through the grades of lowland novice, lowland and mountain novice with SARDA Wales before qualifying in October 2012 at Full Mountain standard with SARDA England. The team were deployed on numerous call outs since they qualified, mainly in the Isle of Man but also in England and with SARDA Wales. One notable call out was assisting with the April Jones case. Star and Jim served the Isle of Man for over 11 years on the call out list and had numerous successes including two finds in the last year of her service.
Gary Wright & Holly
Holly, was a collie lurcher cross who showed great enthusiasm for searching especially with running out where her speed was evident. Holly qualified as a full lowland Search dog and carried out numerous valuable searches during her 8 year career on the call out list, mostly in the Isle of Man but also in Wales. The team made one find and assisted in other call outs with evacuating casualties. Holly was Gary’s first search dog.
Marc Marshall & Matt
Matt a collie had lots of energy and drive to please his handler. Matt is Marc’s first dog and qualified at initial grade lowland search dog, passing in July 2018. During his 4 year career he had 53 call outs with 2 human finds and locating articles 3 which assisted the police in their enquiries.
Jim MacGregor & Ruby
Jim trained Ruby to become the Islands first trailing dog (where she followed the scent of the missing person only). She took poart in over 60 searches with several finds and some critical indications that then led other services to locate the missing person.
Ruby had epilepsy and unfortunately passed away at 9 years old in 2025, just one month after regrading for another 3 years.