In a heartwarming reminder that heroes never truly hang up their capes, a retired police dog in the UK saved a missing person during a walk.
Bear, a 12-year-old German Shepherd, was awarded the lifesaver accolade by the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, a charity supporting police dogs, which had previously helped fund one of Bear’s surgeries.
The incident took place on November 28, when Bear’s owners, both retired officers, took him on a walk to help restore his stamina following surgery to remove tumors. The walk, intended to celebrate Bear’s 12th birthday, was in the picturesque South Downs of southern England.
Julia Pope, Bear’s owner, adopted him after he completed his service as a general police dog in 2020. “Bear helped save several lives during his career, but he and his handler never received recognition at the time, as they were simply doing their job,” Julia explained to the Argus.
During the walk, Bear led Julia and her husband, Ian, into thick brush, where they discovered a man who had fallen and was wet, immobile, and confused. Authorities had already been searching for the man when Bear, with his sharp instincts, found him.