MEET

RPD Bonnie

Breed of dogGerman Shepherd

Location of servitudeCheshire Constabulary

Type of serviceGeneral Purpose

ConditionCancer

Grant amount received£900

Year of birth to year of death2010-2024

  • Retired police dog Bonnie on a walk
  • Fun in the sun for retired police dog Bonnie
  • Police dog Bonnie

MEET RETIRED POLICE DOG BONNIE

Paw icon for list

What was Bonnie like as a police dog?

“She was the perfect police dog who could have school children climbing all over her at a school talk and 20 minutes later she could be out tackling a violent offender. Her handler was so lucky to have her.”

Paw icon for list

What were some of Bonnie’s career highlights?

“Bonnie located a car thief who had decamped on the motorway on her first night shift!”

Paw icon for list

What will you remember Bonnie for?

“She was a common sight in all the police stations across the force and well known for sniffing out food and loved a milky cup of tea!”

Paw icon for list

What did retirement look like for Bonnie?

“Her favourite place was at the river where she’d spend hours paddling and retrieving rocks and then having a stand-off with her paw-rents when it was time to leave! Bonnie was also partial to a trip to the beach to have a battered sausage at Saltburn and loved mini breaks to the Lakes, Skegness and Portsmouth.”

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW WE’VE HELPED RETIRED POLICE DOG BONNIE IN HER RETIREMENT

RPD Bonnie was bred by the West Midlands Police Breeding programme and joined the training scheme at nine-months-old with handler, Richard Beckett, who was also a trainer.  

He said: “Bonnie had a great and illustrious career. She was known for being a terrific tracking dog and didn’t pull punches when it came to dealing with violent offenders.

“She was a favourite amongst colleagues in Cheshire and came to all of the stations with me where she’d get biscuits and tea!”

Richard and Bonnie received six commendations for their work over the years and were regularly the top performing team in the section.

Police dog Bonnie
Retired police dog Bonnie at the beach

Bonnie – or the Bonster as she was affectionately known – retired to North Yorkshire to live with Hannah Morris, who knew Bonnie’s handler, for her final two years.

Hannah said: “She spent her time stealing sausages from the local pet shops, drinking puppacinos at the coffee shop, and knowing exactly which shops to go in to get treats! She was a bit of a local celebrity.”

When Bonnie was diagnosed with cancer, the Foundation covered the cost of her treatment over a period of around five months.

Sadly, however, Bonnie died in July 2024 much to the sadness of Hannah and Richard.  

Fun in the sun for retired police dog Bonnie

IN MEMORY OF

RPD BONNIE 2010-2024

“Bonnie was hilarious, sassy and fiercely loyal, and was without a doubt the best dog in the world. She touched many hearts and is solely missed by those who loved her.” – Hannah

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.