The potential of the three dogs was spotted by Dogs Trust staff.

A trio of dogs adopted from Dogs Trust rehoming centres are now fighting crime in Nottinghamshire after becoming police dogs.

Rocket, a Belgian Malinois, and Rocky, a golden Labrador, have recently gone into active service with Nottingham Police. Last month, Rocket successfully tracked down a suspect for the first time, finding them hidden in a garden bush.

Rocky has also had early success after being adopted by the force in July this year. After being trained as a drugs, cash and firearms sniffer dog, he found hidden drugs on his first assignment.

Dougie, a black Labrador cross, is another former rescue dog who is now serving with Nottinghamshire Police. Adopted from Dogs Trust Loughborough in October 2022, Dougie now works as a drugs detection dog.

Staff at Dogs Trust rescue centres work with police forces to identify rescue dogs with the right characteristics to work as police dogs. After being handed in, Rocket, Rocky, and Dougie all showed the right signs: they were intelligent, eager to learn, and keen to play ball games.

Louise Crawford, animal welfare scheme co-ordinator at Dogs Trust, said: “The Animal Welfare Scheme has been in place for Police dog units for the past 21 years and Dogs Trust has supported this scheme since its inception.  
 
“We think all of the dogs in our care are stars, but staff working in our rehoming centres are trained to spot dogs with extra special crime fighting potential and we work with police forces signed up to the Animal Welfare Scheme to match them and provide ongoing support.   
 
“Rocket, Dougie and Rocky were identified by the staff at our Loughborough and Ilfracombe rehoming centres as being suitable for a working home. I am thrilled that all three dogs have done so well and are fully licensed Police Dogs with Nottinghamshire Police, achieving so much, and reaching their full potential. It’s a wonderful message to promote about rescue dogs and how special they are.”

Chief inspector Amy English of Nottinghamshire Police added: “Finding good candidates for police dog training is not easy so we are grateful to the Dogs Trust for putting forward such excellent candidates.  
 
“These dogs may not have had the best start in life, but they have now found a long-term home with us and are absolutely thriving in the care of their expert handlers.
 
“Training police dogs is hard work and there is no guarantee that the candidates who come to us will meet the required standards, so it is hugely rewarding for everyone on the team when a new dog like Rocket, Rocky or Dougie repays the faith we put in them and gets their first great result.”

Image (C) Dogs Trust