Small crime busters are looking for happy home before embarking on their career
THESE cute pups are in need of loving homes for the next 12 months before they embark on a crime busting career.
And the chosen families also get to name the pups when they are introduced.
The German Shepherds need to be walked everyday so they are used to the hustle and bustle of urban areas, setting them in good stead for a job with the force.
Sergeant Paul Glennon, from Devon and Cornwall Police's dog unit, is looking for families in the Exeter area who can offer suitable homes for the German Shepherd pups from the age of seven or eight weeks.
Sgt Glennon said: "Our two pups need walkers and we will have more pups in the future that will also need to be homed.
"We are looking for several families who can have the pups as a family member.
"We expect the family to get them out and about, like they would a normal dog.
"We want them to be taken to places like town centres, shopping centres, bus stations and along main roads.
"This will develop their characters and make them more confident.
"We take the pups back at 12 months so they can be trained and we can decide if they are suitable to be a working police dog."
Sgt Glennon runs a puppy class at Middlemoor police headquarters, every Sunday afternoon, where the families can bring the pups.
For the first time the force has two bitches joining their dog training programme next month.
The force gets the pups from breeders they have used for a long time.
"With a police dog we ultimately ask it to defend its handler and deal with violent offenders and criminals," Sgt Glennon said.
"We need dogs who can switch to an even temperament and be just as at home with children and groups of visitors.
"We also deal with more missing person jobs than we have ever done before and the dogs do a lot of the searching.
"It is very difficult to get dogs that have that balanced character."
Once the dog goes back at 12 months they do a three month course and then have a canine passing out parade that the families are invited to.
Dog handlers also keep in touch with the family and let them know how the pup is doing.
The force prefers that the dog does not go to a home that already has a young, energetic dog or is in an isolated area.
One of the pups met Prince Charles and Camilla during their recent visit to Cornwall.
Anyone who is interested in bringing up a pup should contact Sgt Glennon on 07811 424886.
Comments
by SAMANTHA KEEN, EXETER
Thursday, August 26 2010, 11:30AM
“Oh
i do hope the little darlings get homes soon
i hope the echo keeps us informed
Would love one but Alfie doesnt like alsations, and he gets jealous
But i am sure they will get loving homes
and hope to bump into them down by the river Exe, where me and my Boxer dog will be playing ball.
I Have one of those long plastic slings that make the ball fly along way, we have loads of fun.”