Two dogs from Pembrokeshire have been honoured with the animal equivalent of the OBE for their amazing work in sniffing out more than £31m worth of illegal cigarettes and tobacco.

Spaniels Yoyo and Scamp have enjoyed an impressive decade-long career as specialist detection dogs with their handler and owner, Stuart Phillips of B.W.Y. Canine, Llandissilio.

They have now been awarded a prestigious medal by the UK’s largest veterinary charity, the PDSA, for their unwavering devotion to duty and service to society.

Scamp and Yoyo, their handler Stuart, Kay Burley, PDSA Director General Jan McLoughlin with Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Edinburgh.Scamp and Yoyo and their handler Stuart are pictured at the ceremony with Kay Burley; PDSA Director General Jan McLoughlin and Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Edinburgh. (Image: Shaun Fellows / Shine Pix Ltd) The pair – both former rescue dogs - became the 53rd and 54th recipients of the PDSA Order of Merit when they were presented with their medals by the Duchess of Edinburgh at an event at the Tower of London on October 2.

Yoyo and Scamp’s detection skills have seen them uncovering 40 million illegal cigarettes and 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.

Scamp (left) and Yoyo pose with their medals outside the Tower of London. The pair are now enjoying a well-earned retirement at their home in Pembrokeshire.Scamp (left) and Yoyo pose with their medals outside the Tower of London. The pair are now enjoying a well-earned retirement at their home in Pembrokeshire. (Image: Shaun Fellows/Shine Pix Ltd)

Alongside Stuart, Yoyo and Scamp conducted more than 1,000 searches a year, working with Trading Standards officers and police services all across the country to discover illegal cigarettes and tobacco.

They pair searched more than 10 premises a day, every working day, visiting over 6,600 shops, 210 storage sites, 400 domestic dwellings and more than 1,000 vehicles.

Stuart  said he feels “very emotional” at the accolade.

He added: “It’s incredible to see the dogs getting recognised.

“What’s remarkable about Yoyo and 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.

PDSA Director General Jan McLoughlin is pictured with Stuart, Scamp and Yoyo.PDSA Director General Jan McLoughlin is pictured with Stuart, Scamp and Yoyo. (Image: Shaun Fellows/Shine Pix Ltd)

“The role is also different to that of a lot of detection dogs. Yoyo and Scamp were trained over 12 months and continued that training into the job. Normally, a detection dog operates on an eight-week training programme.

“Two years into their work, they were consistently having finds, sometimes as many as four or five each day, all located in sophisticated concealments.

“Ultimately, tackling criminality is why I do what I do, but this award is a testament of their success.”

Scamp and YoyoScamp and Yoyo made over 1,000 searches a year in their career. (Image: Shaun Fellows/Shine Pix Ltd)

Yoyo and Scamp – aged 11 and 12 respectively – now have a happy retirement in Pembrokeshire with Stuart and his wife and daughter.

The dogs’ day starts early when they join Stuart’s father-in-law - who is in his 90s – as he looks after the chickens and geese on the family’s land.

Sofa snoozes and romping on local beaches are also part of their retirement schedule.

Stuart added: “All their time with me, they’ve never been in kennels. They’ve lived as part of the family in the house, even as working dogs before retirement they were a part of the family.

“It’s safe to say they really enjoy their life to the maximum.”