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A dog abandoned in Ross-on-Wye and rescued by a Herefordshire Council warden has “made good” in the ranks of the Metropolitan Police.
The two year-old Collie-cross-Spaniel recently celebrated his “passing out” after completing an intensive four month “sniffer-dog” training course at the Met Police Dog Training Unit in Biggin Hill, Kent.
Named Ross by Herefordshire Council staff, the police pooch is now a fully qualified drugs hound and will be used by Customs and Excise in the battle to stop illegal drugs coming into the country.
Mike Higgins, Herefordshire Council’s Animal Welfare Officer, said: “He may not have nine lives but Ross has certainly been given a second chance and we are delighted that he now has a secure future.
“Thanks must go to Matt Faulds, the Herefordshire Council dog warden who found Ross and spotted his potential.”
Ross was discovered in October 2002 tied to a street lamp outside Ross-on-Wye police station.
He was held for the statutory eights days whilst waiting to be reclaimed.
However, no one came forward and it became apparent that the previous owner may have abandoned the black-and-white pooch.
Mike Higgins added: “We put Ross through the standard medical tests and he seemed fit and healthy.
“It was obvious the dog was of high intelligence and, given the opportunity, would train well so we contacted the Police Dog Training Unit.
“It’s not the first time we have helped a dog get back on its feet, so to speak.
“Previously, we have supplied dogs to other organisations such as ‘Hearing dogs for the Deaf’ and the Armed Forces and we get a great deal if pleasure in being able to locate dogs in this manner.“
Pooch's Rise Through Ranks
A dog abandoned in Ross-on-Wye and rescued by a Herefordshire Council warden has “made good” in the ranks of the Metropolitan Police.
The two year-old Collie-cross-Spaniel recently celebrated his “passing out” after completing an intensive four month “sniffer-dog” training course at the Met Police Dog Training Unit in Biggin Hill, Kent.
Named Ross by Herefordshire Council staff, the police pooch is now a fully qualified drugs hound and will be used by Customs and Excise in the battle to stop illegal drugs coming into the country.
Mike Higgins, Herefordshire Council’s Animal Welfare Officer, said: “He may not have nine lives but Ross has certainly been given a second chance and we are delighted that he now has a secure future.
“Thanks must go to Matt Faulds, the Herefordshire Council dog warden who found Ross and spotted his potential.”
Ross was discovered in October 2002 tied to a street lamp outside Ross-on-Wye police station.
He was held for the statutory eights days whilst waiting to be reclaimed.
However, no one came forward and it became apparent that the previous owner may have abandoned the black-and-white pooch.
Mike Higgins added: “We put Ross through the standard medical tests and he seemed fit and healthy.
“It was obvious the dog was of high intelligence and, given the opportunity, would train well so we contacted the Police Dog Training Unit.
“It’s not the first time we have helped a dog get back on its feet, so to speak.
“Previously, we have supplied dogs to other organisations such as ‘Hearing dogs for the Deaf’ and the Armed Forces and we get a great deal if pleasure in being able to locate dogs in this manner.“