Bomb-sniffing dog flees fireworks

Dog gone: Jed fled in Sydney's New Year display

An Australian police dog trained to sniff out explosives has fled in terror at the sound of Sydney's spectacular New Year fireworks.

Jed, a five-year-old golden Labrador, broke out of the yard where he was kept as the fireworks exploded.

Despite a desperate search by his handler, Sergeant Paul Jarrett, he has not been seen since.

"They are trained to find explosives, but they do not all like the sound of them," said Sergeant Jarrett.

Jed was obviously very frightened by the (fireworks) and smashed his way through the back-yard fence

Jed's handler

He has scoured the streets around his home in the south-west Sydney suburb of Hinchinbrook.

"Jed was obviously very frightened by the [fireworks] and smashed his way through the back-yard fence to escape," Sergeant Jarrett said in a statement.

"He hasn't come home and searches in the local area have not located him."

All the force's police dogs are labradors

It cost about A$10,000 (US$5,500) to train Jed for his bomb-sniffing role, which he carried out without incident every day at the Sydney Olympics.

He has also served with the Australian Federal Police, the army, and the National Crime Authority.

Sergeant Jarrett says he has driven 100km round the streets of Sydney in the search for Jed.

His children have also returned home to help - Jed is a beloved family pet as well as a bomb-sniffer.