How one rescue dog found his true home 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 and is the first to be adopted since the force joined the Animal Welfare Welfare Visitors Scheme.

Wiltshire Police adopted three-year-old English Springer Spaniel Reggie in February 2024 and he 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.  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. 

During his 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 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.”

Police Constable Emma Rice, Reggie’s Dog Handler.

Reggie is the first dog that Wiltshire Police has adopted from Dogs Trust since the force joined the Animal Welfare Visitors Scheme. 29 police forces have already joined the scheme which was launched in 2002 and ensures that the training, housing and transport of police dogs meet high animal welfare standards.

“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.”    

Louise Crawford, Animal Welfare Scheme Coordinator, Dogs Trust.

Find out more about how Dogs Trust works with service dogs and check out this video to see Reggie at work.

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