Thin Blue Paw Foundation

Northamptonshire Police officer Sean Foster and his dog, Nala, were licensed in February 2014 and went on to have an incredible career. In 2016 while responding to reports of an aggravated burglary, Nala was struck around the face with a crowbar but, despite her injuries, tracked two missing suspects who were hiding under a caravan. Two years later, Nala helped track two suspects who had fled from a vehicle stop and search and, in 2020, she went after burglars who’d escaped through a residential estate.

Two-year-old Labrador PD Elvis was licensed as a passive and proactive drug detection dog with City of London Police in March 2020 and has gone from strength-to-strength since. His nose has helped to take numerous knives off the streets and identified victims being used for county lines drugs. But his nose has also got him into some trouble; like devouring someone’s Nando’s takeaway, leaving handler, PC Colin Nash from Suffolk, red-faced!

PD Bart and PC Kelly Walker have been working together on behalf of Cheshire Police and North Wales Police for four years. The duo work across a huge area to support all units and assist with firearms support, high-risk missing persons, and tracking from scenes of crime, as well as supporting new handlers into the team. PC Walker has helped to design a new body armour for general purpose dogs, with Bart trialling the design, and the pair are helping to keep police dogs across the nation safe.

This Kent Police pair responded to an emergency call in June 2021 from a man in crisis saying he was going to commit suicide. He’d given a few clues as to his whereabouts and PD Callie and PC Megan West were deployed in an attempt to find him. In just 10 minutes, Calli had managed to pick up and follow a scent just as PC West saw the man jump from a tree with a rope around his neck. They were able to cut him free and commence emergency first aid while requesting support from paramedics. He made a full recovery and has since been able to seek the help he needed.

West Midlands Police duo PD Stark and PC Paul Hopley, from Staffordshire, leapt into action when they were called to allotments to reports of attempted break-ins in the early hours on 14 December 2020. Stark set off to find the offender and soon located a man, giving chase. But the suspect turned on Stark and struck him repeatedly around the head with a machete. As PC Hopley discharged his incapacitant spray, allowing Stark to detain him and drag him away from the dropped knife. Stark was covered in blood and had suffered a number of lacerations to his face.

Leicestershire Police officer Darren Sewell has been a frontline officer for 22 years, a dog handler and firearms support handler for 16 years, and a trainer for four years. He has been an incredible ambassador for police dogs and his life revolves around the dogs and their welfare. He cares for PD Jura and PD Gilly, as well as helping run on puppies for neighbouring forces. In 2020, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma (cancer) and underwent chemotherapy treatment while continuing to care for his pack, train and run on Jura, and prepare for their return to duty.

PC Duncan and PD Hörbi.

PC Duncan having finished at the end of the day.

Taken during the day; (Front L-R) PC Philip Duncan and PC Andy Brown, (Back L-R) PC Mark Grey, PC Dan Barry and PC Claire Woodcock.