MEET

RPD Blade

Breed of dogGerman Shepherd

Location of servitudeCambridgeshire Constabulary

Type of serviceGeneral Purpose

ConditionSpinal condition

Grant amount received£360

  • Police dog Blade sits by a police car
  • Retired police dog Blade
  • Retired police dog Blade with his Thin Blue Paw blanket

HOW WE HELPED RETIRED POLICE DOG BLADE IN RETIREMENT

RPD Blade worked as a general purpose dog with Cambridgeshire Constabulary for four years until retiring at the age of five, in 2020.

He helped control crowds at public events, helped find missing people and tracked criminals. He also received a commendation for tracing a gang who fled from a ram-raid incident.

His handler Paul Rogers said: “Blade was always a very balanced and biddable dog, but fearsome when needed. In training, he regularly took my colleagues off their feet when practising bite work, he was so strong!”

He was forced to retire early when a spinal condition caused him to limp and Paul’s partner’s daughter, Holly, decided to adopt him.

Police dog Blade training bites
Retired police dog Blade with his Thin Blue Paw blanket

Holly said: “He had lived with Paul and my mum for years and initially hated me! But, with Paul’s help, we slowly spent time together and he began to trust me. Now, I’m his whole world; quite the turnaround!

“He generally has good health and, looking at him, you wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with him but he does require regular pain relief to help manage his condition. When he isn’t taking his medication he will limp but with it he charges around like a puppy!”

We fund his medication and help with the costs of his vet consultations.

“Obviously we think the world of him, but he’s a hero too,” Holly added. “The least we can do is ensure he has a long, happy and comfortable retirement.”

Retired police dog Blade

“I’m very grateful to the Thin Blue Paw Foundation for supporting Blade and making his retirement much more comfortable.”

Paul, Blade’s former handler

BENEFICIARIES OF OUR GRANTS

MORE BENEFICIARIES OF OUR GRANTS

Sponsor a retired police dog

Help us with the costs to rehabilitate heroic retired police dogs once they leave the line of duty by sponsoring a dog to support their ongoing care and treatment.

Your sponsorship pack will include:

  • Sponsorship certificate
  • Photo of your sponsor dog
  • A cuddly German Shepherd teddy
  • Quarterly email updates on your sponsor dog
Start your sponsorship

STAY UP TO DATE

Sign up to receive our Thin Blue Paw newsletter straight to your inbox with all the latest news including inspiring stories of the dogs we’ve supported and lots more. By completing this form, you are confirming that you are 18 years of age or over.