Unwanted pets’ new future with Cumbria police

Last updated 10:45, Saturday, 06 September 2008

Tearaway dogs which are a menace to the family home could become the next defence in the fight against crime.

PC Paddy Bainbridge with Diesel, who is currently being trained up as a search dog by Cumbria Constabulary

Cumbria police are seeking young family pets which have become too much for owners to handle to become the next generation of ‘specialised search dogs’ – more commonly referred to as sniffer dogs.

The dogs will be used to find drugs, explosives, firearms, and sometimes even cash.

PC Paddy Bainbridge is a full time instructor and trainer for the force’s Dog Unit.

He said: “Sometimes people get dogs as puppies and they can become too much for them when they begin to grow up, or situations change unexpectedly in people’s private lives and they need to find a new home for their dogs.

“We take dogs between 12 months and two years old, which we can train up to search for drugs and firearms.

“Any dog which is brought forward will undergo a search test and, if successful, will be enlisted with a view to being put through a four-week intensive training course due to start in October.”

The first test for potential sniffer dogs is whether they repeatedly want to chase a ball which is thrown for them.

It is then hidden about a house, and the dog must search for it several times.

It then needs to search for a ball which has not actually been hidden. If the dog continues to search for the ball when it is not there to be found, the animal is considered for training.

Dogs which are not considered suitable to go on for full police dog training are then returned to the families from which they came.

Gun dogs, such as Labradors, spaniels, and collies are considered to be the most suitable for training.

The dogs work with individual handlers and live with them at the family home.

Anyone who would like to find out more information or donate their dog should contact Sergeant Mark Yielder or PC Paddy Bainbridge at the Cumbria Constabulary Dogs Unit on 0845 3300 247.