Meet the Team
The people and dogs working to restore the River Wye and protect British waterways from pollution.
Operational readiness
Our team is trained, equipped, and ready to begin field surveys. We're currently working with partners to access the drainage mapping data needed to prioritise the right locations in the River Wye catchment.
Ross Stephenson
Ross leads the detection work, training standards, dog welfare, and field delivery at Eco Dog Solutions CIC. He has 21 years' experience training and working detection dogs in real operational environments.
Ross spent 10 years in the British Army's Royal Army Veterinary Corps, deploying on three tours and working as a handler and trainer for explosive detection dogs. That foundation shaped how Eco Dog operates: calm handling, repeatable training protocols, clear boundaries, and evidence-led decision-making.
In previous UK utility work, Ross helped develop dog-led detection workflows designed to reduce "check everything" inspections. The dog screens large areas quickly, evidence is captured consistently, and follow-up checks focus only where the indicators justify it—reducing disruption and speeding up the pathway to action.
Ross previously founded and led a UK detection dog services company and later transferred ownership to his business partner so he could focus fully on Eco Dog Solutions CIC and its environmental mission.
Eco Dog Solutions applies that same detection discipline to a river pollution problem that communities can't ignore: finding misconnections fast, mapping evidence clearly, and helping get repairs completed—starting in the River Wye catchment.
Andy Shaw
Andy leads operations at Eco Dog Solutions CIC. He brings over 22 years' experience as a Military Working Dog Trainer in the British Army's Royal Army Veterinary Corps.
During his military career, Andy worked in 15+ countries, completed multiple operational tours, and built a deep understanding of how working dogs perform at their best—training quality, reliability under pressure, and disciplined, repeatable deployment methods.
Andy completed his service at the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) as the Chief Dog Trainer, reflecting the highest level of expertise and leadership within the field. As he progressed through the ranks, he also became responsible for managing troops and maintaining standards across teams—experience he now applies to Eco Dog's delivery model, safety, consistency, and operational scale.
Andy is driven by the mission to use world-class detection capability for environmental protection—helping to restore and safeguard waterways for the next generation.
Snipe
Snipe is the working dog at the heart of Eco Dog Solutions — and the world's first active water-leak detection dog. For nine years he worked with major UK water companies, using his nose to detect the faint trace of chlorinated drinking water leaking from underground mains and rising through the soil to the surface. When he finds it, he gives a clear sit-and-stare indication to pinpoint where crews should dig and repair.
After a couple of years in retirement, Snipe — now 11 — has come back to help establish a new capability for river protection. He supports surveys by screening street drainage assets for household wastewater odours (from washing machines, dishwashers and other grey water) and tracking scent back to misconnected properties. Each find helps us pinpoint contamination quickly and safely so fixes can happen — one property at a time.
Snipe works to a high welfare standard: positive reinforcement, short shifts, rest and hydration, and safe boundaries at all times. Snipe's welfare is non-negotiable — he sets the pace, and we follow.
Our Welfare-First Standards
Why Welfare Matters
Our detection dogs are not just tools—they're valued team members whose wellbeing is central to our mission. A happy, healthy dog is a more effective detection dog. By prioritising welfare, we ensure sustainable, ethical conservation work that respects the animals who make it possible.
All our training and operational practices are guided by current animal welfare science and best practices from the detection dog community. We're committed to continuous improvement and transparency in our animal welfare standards.
Our Dogs in Action
Sniffing drain covers for wastewater odours
Working alongside our team in the field
A Team United by Purpose
From our founders to our detection dogs, every member of Eco Dog Solutions is driven by a shared commitment: to restore the health of the River Wye and protect British waterways for future generations. Together, we're proving that innovative conservation and animal welfare can go hand in hand.