Wiltshire Police’s three-year-old English Springer Spaniel, Reggie, adopted in February 2024 from the Dogs Trust Evesham Centre, has celebrated his first year of service as a police dog.
Reggie quickly excelled during training, thanks to his energetic nature and his love for tennis balls. By May 2024, he was officially a Drugs, Cash, and Firearms Recovery dog.
In his milestone first year, Reggie conducted over 60 searches, covering houses, open spaces, and vehicles. His notable successes include uncovering thousands of pounds in cash and seizing quantities of drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, and heroin.
Reggie’s crime-fighting potential was first recognized by the team at Dogs Trust Evesham when he was handed into their care due to his previous owner’s ill health. With high energy levels and an intense focus on the ball, Reggie thrived when engaged in activities or training. His carers quickly saw that he had all the qualities needed to become a great working dog.
Police Constable Emma Rice, Reggie’s handler, shared: “Reggie is a joy to work with. He’s a workaholic with a strong-willed personality. If he had his way, he would work all day. He’s settled into his new role wonderfully and loves nothing more than getting into the car at the start of his shift, knowing a search—and his tennis ball—awaits. In his first year, Reggie has had some memorable moments, like locating drugs and cash during a raid, as well as finding a drug package that had eluded officers in an outdoor search. Reggie is a great fit for the job and has a long and successful career ahead of him.”
Not only has Reggie become an integral part of the Wiltshire Police team, but he also holds the distinction of being the first rescue dog from Dogs Trust to join Wiltshire Police since the force joined the Animal Welfare Visitors Scheme (AWS) last year. The AWS, established nationally in 2002, ensures high animal welfare standards in the training, housing, and transport of police dogs. Currently, 29 police forces across the UK are part of the scheme.
Louise Crawford, Animal Welfare Scheme Coordinator at Dogs Trust, added: “The AWS has been in place for 23 years, and we’ve supported it since its inception. Our rehoming teams are trained to spot dogs with special crime-fighting potential. We collaborate with police forces involved in the AWS to match dogs with the right teams, ensuring they thrive and live their best lives. I’m thrilled that Reggie has found such success as a police dog with Wiltshire Police. His story is a wonderful example of the great things rescue dogs can achieve. Reggie is the first of many, and I’m confident he will inspire even more rescue dogs to join the force.”