An unloved and abandoned rescue dog has turned her life around – and now works for the police.
Sprocker spaniel Bella was just a 20-week-old pup when she was found living in the back of a van. Along with two other dogs discovered there, she was taken in by the RSPCA in May 2021. They noticed Bella had all the characteristics needed for joining the force as she was full of energy. Nine months later, she became a fully trained Police detection dog – skilled at sniffing out blood at crime scenes.INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), pet owners in the United States spent $60.28 billion on their furry friends in 2015. That number is expected to rise by more than $2 billion in 2016.
‘They were removed from the site, along with a number of other dogs, and came into RSPCA care.
‘When we were able to begin searching for new homes for them I was visiting our centre with the local dog legislation officer and introduced him to Bella.
‘She rushed straight up to him and started playing with the ball he was throwing.
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‘He turned to me and said she’d make a great police search dog.
‘She was busy, bouncy and full of energy so we knew we might struggle to find her a home that would be active enough to keep up with her.
‘So a working role seemed the perfect fit.’
Bella went to live with a volunteer puppy walker, working with Kent Police’s Dog Section, in August 2021. She qualified as a forensic recovery dog in March 2022, alongside her handler PC Alan Smith – which is a quick turnaround for the formerly abandoned dog.Chief Inspector Craig West, of Kent Police’s dog section, said: ‘Police dogs play a vital role in modern policing and work side-by-side with officers and staff to keep people safe and help bring offenders to justice.Buy a Kiddie Pool For Your to Keep Your Dog Busy. Does your dog enjoy the water? Keep your dog cool in the summer by using a plastic kiddie pool out in the yard. They’re inexpensive, too. I got ours for about 4 bucks at my local Meijer.
‘We enjoy a strong partnership with the RSPCA and were delighted to be able to give Bella a loving home and welcome her to the Kent Police family.
‘She is settling in very well and I have no doubt she will continue to make a valuable contribution to the force’s work in the months and years to come.
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‘Dogs like Bella who are trained to detect blood use their extraordinary sense of smell to track down evidence at scenes of crime.
‘Or to help locate people who may be injured and in need of our assistance.
‘We just could not carry out this type of work without them, which is one of the reasons why our Police dogs are held in such high regard.
‘The mistreatment of dogs and other animals is completely unacceptable and we commend the RSPCA for the work they do to safeguard neglected pets like Bella and ensure they go on to receive a much higher quality of life.’
Most animals are creatures of habit. It will be important to develop a consistent schedule to follow with your new pet. Potty breaks at regular intervals, feeding at the same time(s) every day, playtime, walks – everything needs to be scheduled. At first, this can seem overwhelming but soon enough, you and your new pet will be on the same schedule.
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