MEET

RPD Kaiser

Breed of dogGerman Shepherd

Location of servitudeMinistry of Defence Police

Type of serviceGeneral Purpose

ConditionArthritis & spondylosis

Grant amount received£3,100

Year of birth to year of death2010 – 2023

  • Retired police dog Kaiser at his owners' wedding
  • Retired police dog Kaiser
  • Retired police dog Kaiser at hydrotherapy
  • Retired police dog Kaiser at the beach

MEET RETIRED POLICE DOG KAISER

Paw icon for list

How did Kaiser become a police dog?

Kaiser was 10-months-old when he was found straying in Plymouth, Devon, having been turfed out of his home by his owner who couldn’t cope with him. Staff at the rescue centre who took him in contacted the Ministry of Defence where he started his general purpose training.

Paw icon for list

Why did Kaiser retire?

Kaiser injured himself while on duty and, despite treatment for his broken leg as well as rehabilitative physio he was unable to return to duty so was medically retired early.

Paw icon for list

What’s your favourite memory with Kaiser?

Kaiser and his doggy brother, Radley, attended his owners’ wedding creating wonderful lasting memories for the whole family.

Paw icon for list

What does the Thin Blue Paw mean to you?

“We tried so hard for years to help Kaiser live his life as best as possible so for someone to turn around and offer to help was amazing. Kaiser was everything to us. The charity is such a weight off our mind; we know we have somewhere to turn and ask for support.”

HOW WE HELPED RETIRED POLICE DOG KAISER IN RETIREMENT

Retired police dog Kaiser at his owners' wedding

RPD Kaiser joined the Ministry of Defence Police after being rescued as a stray.

He was paired with handler, Ian Brake, and the duo worked together for five years patrolling an atomic weapons base in Berkshire.

During a night shift in 2016, Kaiser fell down a hole and broke his leg. He was in a cast for eight weeks and needed three months of physio and rehabilitation but didn’t recover so was retired from duty.

Ian and his wife, Heather, adopted Kaiser as their pet.

Kaiser needed weekly hydrotherapy, regular pain relief, supplements, a daily immunosuppressant and canine massage for his arthritis and spondylosis.

Heather said: “Hydrotherapy really helps Kaiser live life to the full and that’s all that matters to us. We paid for it for five years and always managed but times got really tough during Covid so when the Thin Blue Paw offered to pay for the sessions we were thrilled.”

After seven wonderful years of retirement with Ian and Heather, Kaiser sadly passed away in September 2023 leaving his family heartbroken.

Retired police dog Kaiser at hydrotherapy
Police dog Kaiser with his handler, Ian

IN MEMORY OF

RPD KAISER 2010-2023

“Kaiser would be my number one choice to protect me if I was walking down the street at night, but would also be my number one choice to babysit a small child. I don’t think there can be many dogs who people could trust so much in such opposite situations.” – Ian

POLICE DOG MEMORIAL ROLL OF HONOUR

FULL ROLL OF HONOUR

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.