A pet dumped on the roadside in a cage at 4 months previous has joined Surrey Police as a educated sniffer canine.
Chester the cocker spaniel was rescued by the RSPCA after he was discovered by a member of the general public deserted in a steel crate with 5 different puppies on a grass verge in Hersden, close to Canterbury, in January.
The 4 cocker spaniels and two terrier crossbreed puppies have been thought to have been deserted after having handed the age when they’re most marketable.
RSPCA inspector Clive Hopwood mentioned: “It’s very doable these puppies have been deserted by a breeder. We imagine these puppies could have didn’t promote in order that they have been deserted having handed their ‘cute’ stage once they’re most marketable and most beneficial.”
It shortly grew to become obvious that Chester had “large power ranges”, making it tough for the RSPCA to rehome him, till volunteer fosterers seen he had an actual drive for “looking out and sniffing issues out”.
Sarah Piggott, who works for the RSPCA and fostered Chester, mentioned: “No quantity of strolling or enrichment appeared to exhaust him.
“I realised he had an actual drive for looking out and sniffing issues out when he’d simply discover different canine’ misplaced tennis balls on walks and stored bringing them to me.”
Tara Luxford, who adopted Chester’s brother, Bertie, mentioned Chester was “at all times destined” to hitch the police to turn into a sniffer canine.
“I keep in mind in the future we have been strolling them collectively and Bertie had misplaced his new toy in a bush and we couldn’t attain it,” Ms Luxford mentioned.
“We instructed Chester to ‘discover it’ and he went straight into the bush and received it again for Bertie.
“He was at all times destined to be a sniffer canine.”
In March, Chester was taken in by Surrey Police and commenced the method of coaching to turn into a sniffer canine with a particular foster household.
Ms Piggott mentioned she was “so proud” of her former foster pet and added she is “thrilled” he has lastly been rehomed.
“Chester has executed very well and caught as much as the opposite puppies who have been bred to be sniffer canine and began their coaching earlier than him,” Ms Piggott mentioned.
“I’m so pleased with him and I’m thrilled that he’s discovered a house the place he can do what he loves on daily basis whereas being effectively taken care of.”
After finishing a six-week intensive coaching course, PD Chester grew to become a licensed police sniffer canine in October and he was celebrated at a ceremony at Surrey Police HQ.
The “superb” pup has now been deployed throughout Surrey and Sussex to help the police alongside his handler PC Kim Hackett.
Surrey Police operational and canine college supervisor Geoff Wiltshire mentioned: “Chester has been superb since he arrived with us.
“He has gone from power to power and has executed very well to go his digital detection course.
“Our requirements are very excessive and he has confirmed himself to have all the mandatory qualities to reach this vital position.
“His handler, Kim, has an excellent bond with him and we sit up for seeing some operational outcomes from this new group.”
