British bomb sniffing dog, Theo

A British Army dog that held the record for finding the most bombs and weapons in Afghanistan has died along with his handler in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps and Theo, a 22-month-old springer spaniel cross, were killed as they came under small arm fire in the Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand Province in Afghanistan.

L-Cpl. Tasker, who was from Scotland, was shot dead and the dog Theo died later from a seizure at Camp Bastion, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Theo acted as "front man" of the patrol and was dedicated to L-Cpl Tasker. Theo, had been on his first six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Military Working Dog Support Unit, based at Camp Bastion.

His tour was extended by a month after he sniffed out 14 weapons and improvised explosive devices in his first five months. L-Cpl. Tasker initially joined the army in 2001 as a vehicle mechanic but his passion for dogs led to his transfer to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.

Last month, L-Cpl. Tasker said he did not know that the dog support unit existed until a friend showed him videos of dogs at work.

He said: "I love my job and working together with Theo. He has great character and never tires. He can't wait to get out and do his job." L-Cpl. Tasker's death brings to 358 the number of British military personnel to have died in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001.