Staffie Roxy
makes history
Unwanted Staffordshire Bull Terrier Roxy
has become the first ever rescue Staffie to
qualify as a police explosives search dog.
Roxy arrived at West Hatch after being
brought to the Centre by one of our
Inspectors. It wasn’t long before she started
showing off an impressive talent for tracking
down hidden tennis balls, and so began
her unexpected journey from kennels to
crime fighting!
The super sniffer’s skills were first spotted
by our supervisor Sue Dicks who contacted
police dog trainer PC Lee Webb (pictured
with Roxy), who has worked alongside us to
help 14 rescue dogs overcome abuse, neglect
and abandonment to become police dogs in
the past five years.
Roxy, who will be searching for explosives
for Wiltshire Police after qualifying on 28
June, is the latest in a number of our rescue
Staffie success stories which first began with
a dog called Kos who was rehomed to Lee at
Avon and Somerset Police in 2012.
Dog trainer Ian Partington said:
“Here at Tri-Force Specialist Operations
Dog Unit, which covers Wiltshire, Avon and
Somerset and Gloucestershire, it is really
important to us that we have the best dogs
doing the job – this is irrespective of their
breed or background.
Police dog Roxy is a rescue dog who was
taken in by RSPCA at West Hatch and she
showed some great skills that we knew
would make her a brilliant police explosives
dog. She really shone during her initial
training course and has now successfully
gained her licence. We are all thrilled to
have another rescue dog on board – these
dogs may not have had the easiest start in
life but they are amazing crime-fighting dogs
and Roxy will no doubt have a great career
ahead of her. “
We’re so proud of Roxy and all the dogs
who have gone on to qualify as police dogs.
We would like to thank PC Lee Webb for his
absolute dedication to using rescue dogs,
and for the amazing work he has done in
changing the way people view Staffies.