Retired police dog Captain wins Lifetime Achievement Award

A retired police dog who tracked down criminals and found missing people across the region has been given a national Lifetime Achievement Award.

Captain, a German Shepherd, received the award from the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, a charity that supports serving and retired police dogs and horses.

A remarkable career

Captain worked as a police dog from December 2018 to 2021, with his handler, PC Marcus Cottrell. During his career he tracked suspects, found missing people, located evidence at crime scenes and helped officers deal with public disorder and serious violence.

In one memorable case, he followed the trail of a car thief through woodland and into a brook. In another, he helped to find a man who had fled from a secure hospital.

"Captain is fearless but also extremely sociable; he detained countless criminals and used his nose to find people on the run, as well as weapons used in incidents," PC Cottrell said.

Retirement and recovery

Captain's career ended in 2021 when he ruptured a cruciate ligament, a common knee injury in active dogs. He was adopted by PC Cottrell and his family.

He later needed major surgery for herniated discs in his spine. The Thin Blue Paw Foundation provided more than 30,000 pounds towards his veterinary care.

Kieran Stanbridge, founder of the charity, said: "Captain worked hard and he paid for it with his health." He said the charity was proud to make sure Captain had "the best retirement possible".

Why retired police animals need help

Police dogs and horses work hard and can suffer injuries and age-related conditions after they retire. Once they leave service, the cost of their care usually falls on their handlers or new owners, and veterinary bills can be very high. Charities such as the Thin Blue Paw Foundation help to cover those costs.

Finn's Law

Police dogs have greater legal protection than they once did. Finn's Law, passed in 2019 after a police dog called Finn was stabbed while chasing a suspect, means people who attack service animals can no longer claim they were acting in self-defence. A later change increased the maximum sentence for animal cruelty to five years in prison.

Police dogs today

Police forces use dogs for many tasks, from tracking and searching for people to detecting drugs, cash, firearms and explosives. German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois are often used as general purpose dogs, while spaniels and Labradors are popular as search dogs because of their keen noses and enthusiasm.

Puppies are often raised by volunteer families before they begin training, and dogs usually live with their handlers, both during their careers and often after they retire.

Another police dog in the news

Last week another dog from the region's police force was reported to be recovering at home after major spinal surgery, showing how common such injuries are among hard-working police dogs.

How to help

People who want to support retired police animals can donate to charities that care for them, or volunteer to help with fundraising events.

The bond with handlers

Police dogs and their handlers spend almost all of their time together, at work and at home, and handlers often describe their dogs as members of the family. When a dog retires, the handler usually has the first chance to adopt it, which means many dogs, like Captain, spend their retirement with the person they worked alongside for years.