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Herefordshire Council picked a clear winner when ‘Ernie’, a stray springer, spaniel was collected from Hereford Police Station in July.
As is normal in these cases, Ernie was taken to the kennels used by the Council to house stray dogs, where he was kept for seven days waiting for someone to claim him but no one did.
During that time however, Herefordshire Council Dog Warden Matt Faulds, noticed how alert and attentive Ernie was, and how he seemed to have good concentration and a need to learn.
Matt Faulds, Herefordshire Council Dog Warden, said: “After about three to four days, when no one had claimed him, I went to spend some time with him.
“I could see he had potential. I would show him a toy and then hide it and within minutes he had found it.
“I knew this made him ideal to be trained as a police ‘sniffer’ dog.
“He had all the right attributes and a super temperament.”
Ernie was taken by the Metropolitan Police to the dog training centre in Biggin Hill in Kent on 12 August where he passed his ‘medical’ with flying colours. He then spent the next three months being trained.
Ernie now works with his handler in combating crime by seeking out illegal drug trafficking.
Herefordshire Council picks up about 300 stray dogs each year. About 60% are reclaimed by their owners, 40% are re-homed and of these only the rare, exceptional dog is selected for such special responsibility.
Anyone finding or wanting to report a stray dog should contact the Council on (01432) 261761.
Ernie's a winner
Herefordshire Council picked a clear winner when ‘Ernie’, a stray springer, spaniel was collected from Hereford Police Station in July.
As is normal in these cases, Ernie was taken to the kennels used by the Council to house stray dogs, where he was kept for seven days waiting for someone to claim him but no one did.
During that time however, Herefordshire Council Dog Warden Matt Faulds, noticed how alert and attentive Ernie was, and how he seemed to have good concentration and a need to learn.
Matt Faulds, Herefordshire Council Dog Warden, said: “After about three to four days, when no one had claimed him, I went to spend some time with him.
“I could see he had potential. I would show him a toy and then hide it and within minutes he had found it.
“I knew this made him ideal to be trained as a police ‘sniffer’ dog.
“He had all the right attributes and a super temperament.”
Ernie was taken by the Metropolitan Police to the dog training centre in Biggin Hill in Kent on 12 August where he passed his ‘medical’ with flying colours. He then spent the next three months being trained.
Ernie now works with his handler in combating crime by seeking out illegal drug trafficking.
Herefordshire Council picks up about 300 stray dogs each year. About 60% are reclaimed by their owners, 40% are re-homed and of these only the rare, exceptional dog is selected for such special responsibility.
Anyone finding or wanting to report a stray dog should contact the Council on (01432) 261761.