Two specialist detection dogs, who spent over a decade searching for illegal cigarettes and tobacco and a military horse from The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, who led Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession, have all been awarded a PDSA Order of Merit Medal, known as known as the animals’ OBE.

Yoyo & Scamp’s story   

Yoyo & Scamp have become the 53rd and 54th recipients of the PDSA Order of Merit following an impressive decade-long career.  

Alongside their handler Stuart, Yoyo and Scamp conducted more than 1,000 searches a year, working with Trading Standards Officers and Police Services across the country to discover illegal cigarettes and tobacco. 

The Spaniels uncovered:

• 40 million illegal cigarettes  
• 18 tonnes of illicit hand-rolling tobacco with a joint approximate value of £31.2 million 
• As well as over £5 million of criminal cash 

And searched: 

• More than 10 premises every single working day 
• visiting over 6,600 shops 
• 210 storage sites  
• 400 domestic dwellings, and  
• More than 1,000 vehicles 

Speaking about the occasion, Stuart said: “I feel very emotional, in all honesty. It’s incredible to see the dogs getting recognised.  

“I work a lot with the Trading Standards, Police and HMRC Customs units and what’s remarkable about Yoyo Scamp is their consistency. 

 “Both dogs came from unwanted families as rescues, and despite that, they put so much effort into their work, often in very challenging circumstances.” 

Yogi’s story   

Lord Firebrand, known affectionately as Yogi has become the 55th recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit. 

Yogi has been a Military Working Horse for 10 years. Often praised for his calm and reliable nature, Yogi has participated in the full range of State Ceremonial and Public Duty (SCPD) activities throughout his career such as the State Opening of Parliament, State Visits and Trooping the Colour.  

Due to his calm and steady nature, Yogi provided unique emotional support to his rider on two occasions in particular: 

• On 13 May 2022, Yogi was chosen to be the Parade Commander’s horse for the Platinum Jubilee Celebration. He was specially chosen for his poise and reliability in stressful situations as the parade is a particularly challenging role for any horse. The horses were required to stand still for up to two hours and remain so, despite large ranks of Foot Guards adorned in their imposing bearskins conducting massed foot and rifle drills in front of them.  

• In September 2022, Yogi was part of every element of Operation London Bridge - the codename given to all events leading up to the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Most significantly, Yogi led the procession conveying Her Majesty’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for the period of Lying in State. There was only one full rehearsal for the event, in the middle of the night, during the hours of darkness and with minimal crowds. 

Speaking about Yogi, his rider for this occasion, Captain Amy Cooper, said “Yogi is the only horse I would trust to deliver such a high-profile parade, under such scrutiny and pressure. Yogi is always the first choice for any parade commander.” 

Yogi retired in December 2023 after a 10-year career with The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.  He now lives with a former Officer of the King’s Troop and their family, and enjoys regular gentle exercise in the countryside.