Police dog puts his paws up after nine years of service (From Borehamwood Times)

Police dog puts his paws up after nine years of service

5:30pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in News By Natalie O'Neill

A police dog that helped sniff out drugs and cash in Borehamwood is retiring after nine years of service.

Ted, a ten-year-old Springer Spaniel, was given as a gift to the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit in 2003.

With the help of 38-year-old PC Jason Kier, he was trained as a drugs and firearms sniffer dog and attended jobs across the two counties.

Speaking to the Borehamwood Times, PC Kier said: “Everybody who saw Ted adored him. He was such a friendly Springer, but he was also quite placid which is sometimes better for searching.

“He would do anything for a tennis ball. If you threw one you instantly became a friend for life.”

Ted used to live in a kennel at the bottom of PC Kier’s garden in Bedford. He said: “It was a hard decision to let him go and my kids adored him, but I know he will have a better life.

“I miss him. I probably spent more time with him than I did with my family – at work and looking after him at home – so I couldn't help but get attached.”

Ted has been given a new home with a retired couple in Sawtry, Cambridgeshire, where he is enjoying putting his paws up after nine years of service.

Since April 1 this year, the dog unit has attended 1395 incidents and made 214 arrests as a direct result of the dog handlers and their work.