Rookie Police Dog Given Award

Fri, 06 Mar 2009

A rookie police dog who saved her dog handler from a knifeman is to be recognised with a courage award. It was the Wiltshire police dog’s first encounter with a dangerous suspect, but despite being stabbed herself, Anya continued to protect her handler PC Neil Sampson by barking, biting and fighting the offender. Both the dog handler and the animal have been recognised with Police Dog Team of the Year at Crufts .

The panel of judges commented, ‘The actions of the dog, especially at such a young age and being faced with a situation which could never be replicated in training showed great courage and determination. To hold on after being stabbed and to continue to return again, take hold and defend the handler was excellent. This, accompanied by the fact that the handler, who had already been incapacitated, was unable to support the dog was something many fully trained and older dogs would not have done. The circumstances of what could have happened to the handler and or his colleagues had the police dog not acted instinctively in this way is something we did not wish to contemplate.’

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