MEET

RPD Meg

Breed of dogSpaniel cross Labrador

Location of servitudeNorth Yorkshire Police

Type of serviceSearch & Detection

ConditionPeriodontal disease

Grant amount received£400

  • Retired police dog Meg poses proudly for the camera
  • Retired police dog Meg on her Thin Blue Paw blanket by the Christmas tree
  • Retired police dog Meg enjoying the snow

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW WE HELPED RETIRED POLICE DOG MEG

RPD Meg worked with North Yorkshire Police as a cash, drugs and firearms detection dog from 2015 to 2021.

She was partnered with handler Martin Gayles, retiring when he became an instructor and stood down from operational duty.

He said: “Meg was an absolute dream to work and was very good at her job. She quickly became an invaluable asset, locating thousands of pounds worth of cash and drugs throughout her career.

“But it was an incident when she was requested to search for a firearm that stands out as her most significant find. She had to search a large cemetery, after officers had already conducted a search, and it took her only five minutes to locate a handgun hidden within a tree that couldn’t be seen.

Her breeding – an English spaniel cross Labrador – made her the perfect search dog.”

Retired police dog Meg bounds through the water
Retired police dog Meg laying in the grass

She retired to live with Martin and his family, spending her days enjoying countryside walks and snoozing on the sofa.

Martin’s wife, Helen, added: “She may be 12 but she can still sniff out money in the odd birthday card!

“Once she retired she became ‘my’ dog and is always by my side. She enjoys walks with our bouncy 18-month-old lurcher, still loves a ball – especially if it’s thrown into water – and sleeps in comfort on the bed!”

Thankfully, her health has been good but the Foundation assisted with the cost of surgery when she needed a painful tooth extracted in 2024 after vets discovered it was causing periodontal disease.

Helen added: “The Foundation is important support for RPDs who have dedicated part of their lives to serve police and, whether they have retired for age or health reasons, they deserve to enjoy their retirement.”

Retired police dog Meg enjoying the snow

“RPDs deserve to enjoy their retirement and this can put financial pressure on owners but the Foundation helps massively to give them the retirement they deserve.“

Helen, Meg’s owner

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.