Camilla bowled over by canines and carers (From Western Telegraph)

Camilla bowled over by canines and carers

6:20pm Saturday 23rd February 2013 in News

A Pembrokeshire specialist dog handler who runs courses teaching young people about drugs, came face to face with a royal dog lover this week – Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Stuart Phillips, of Llandissilio, who runs K9 Drug Awareness, had been invited to work with a group of children and young people who are part of Wiltshire Young Carers.

K9 Drug Awareness uses drug detection dogs to teach young people about the dangers of drugs.

Over two days, Stuart held two K9 Drug Awareness interactive workshops with an audience of over 40 children and young people who have a caring responsibility.

The Duchess of Cornwall dropped in on the programme as part of a royal tour of Wiltshire.

She was welcomed by Stuart’s dogs, five-year-old Eric, 21-month-old Phoebe and Pip, 20 months, – three lively black sprocker spaniels – a cross between a springer spaniel and a cocker spaniel.

“They are incredible,” said the Duchess.

As Phoebe and Pip ran circles around each other tangling their leads, the Duchess added: “I’ve got two terriers, they do that all day.”

Stuart, a former MOD dog handler, said: “As soon as I heard the Duchess was coming, I realised she is a dog lover, she was on Battersea with Paul O’Grady at Christmas, and her face just lit up when she saw the dogs.

“It was a bit chaotic in there, but she seemed genuinely interested in how the dogs assist in the education of children and young people about drugs and drug abuse.”

Stuart said K9 Drug Awareness was the only project of its kind and it was developed by him as part of his specialist Bwy Canine service that provides clients with dogs capable of detecting explosives, drugs, tobacco or even blood. They had previously been deployed at the London 2012 Olympics.

More details about K9 Drug Awareness can be found at www.k9drugaware ness.co.uk.