Former Rescue Dog Adopted from Dogs Trust Celebrates One Year with Wiltshire Police

A former rescue dog adopted from Dogs Trust by Wiltshire Police has celebrated his first year of service as a police dog.

Wiltshire Police adopted three-year-old English Springer Spaniel Reggie in February 2024 from Dogs Trust Evesham.  Reggie excelled during training due to his enthusiastic nature and love for a tennis ball, becoming a Drugs, Cash and Firearms Recovery dog in May 2024.  

During his milestone first year of service, Reggie carried out more than 60 searches of houses, open spaces, and vehicles. His many successes include finding thousands of pounds of cash and quantities of drugs, including cannabis, cocaine and heroin. 

Reggie’s crime-fighting potential was first spotted by the team at Dogs Trust Evesham when he was handed into the charity’s care due to his owner’s ill health.  Reggie had high energy levels and was very focused on the ball. He was happiest when he had an activity or training to focus on.  Reggie's Dogs Trust carers felt he had all the qualities required to be an excellent working dog. 

Reggie’s Dog Handler, Police Constable Emma Rice, said: “Reggie is a joy to work with. He is a workaholic and a very strong-willed boy. If given the option, he would work all day.  He has adjusted to his new life very well and loves nothing more than getting in the car at the start of the shift, as it means he will get to search and, in turn, get his beloved tennis ball.   

“During his first year as a police dog, he has had some great jobs, including two stand-out warrants. One where he found lots of drugs and cash and an outside search where he located a package of drugs which officers had been unable to locate.

"I hope Reggie will have a long and happy career in the police, and he couldn’t be better suited to the job.” 

Sergeant Jon Harwood, from the Wiltshire Police Dog Unit, said: "We have a close working relationship with the Dogs Trust and are grateful for being able to give Reggie an opportunity to put his intelligence and energy to good use.

"Some people find dogs like this difficult to cope with in a domestic setting but working as a Police Dog means we can use these skills to help find evidence, and we hope this offers the dog a fulfilling life."

Not only has Reggie now become an integral part of the Wiltshire Police team, but he also has the fantastic accolade of being the first rescue dog adopted from Dogs Trust to become a police dog with Wiltshire Police since it joined the Animal Welfare Visitors Scheme (AWS) last year. The scheme was launched nationally in 2002 to ensure that the training, housing and transport of police dogs meet high animal welfare standards. There are currently 29 police forces across the UK that have joined the scheme.   

Louise Crawford, Animal Welfare Scheme Coordinator at Dogs Trust, said: “The Animal Welfare Visitors Scheme has been in place for police dog units for the past 23 years, and Dogs Trust has supported the scheme since its inception.  

“Our rehoming centre teams are trained to spot dogs with extra special crime-fighting potential, and we work with police forces signed up to the Animal Welfare Visitors Scheme to find the right partnership to ensure the dogs can thrive and live their best lives and where we can provide ongoing support.    

“Reggie was identified by the team at Dogs Trust Evesham as being suitable for a working home. I am thrilled that Reggie has done so well and is now a fully licensed police dog with Wiltshire Police, where he is achieving so much and reaching his full potential.  It is extra special that Reggie is the first dog adopted by the Wiltshire force since it joined the scheme last year, and I’m sure he will be the first of many.  Rescue dogs have so much to offer and can achieve great things. Reggie’s story and success in his new life are wonderful ways to promote this message.”