MEET
RPD Miki
German Shepherd
North Yorkshire Police
General Purpose
MEET RETIRED POLICE DOG MIKI
What was Miki like as a partner?
“We had some fantastic results over the last three years, tracking suspects from vehicles, finding vulnerable missing people, locating missing children – including a 10-year-old child up a tree – and finding key items of property discarded from burglaries and stolen cars.”
What is a career highlight?
“Miki conducted an area search in the forest and successfully sniffed out – and almost sniffed up – a very big pile of white powder! This find resulted in a lengthy prison sentence for the suspects.”
Tell us a funny story about Miki…
“On his very first day at home with his first handler, they went out for a walk. The Sgt had given strict instructions that new police dogs should not be let off the lead. But Miki had other ideas, he made a run for it, pulling the lead from his hand and scarpering! The PC gave chase but didn’t have to run far because Miki’s lead wrapped around his legs and hog-tied him!”
Why did Miki retire?
“Miki started limping and vets discovered he was suffering from hip dysplasia in both hips and spondylosis in his spine. He was later found to have a ruptured cruciate ligament which needed surgery, funded by the police.”
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RETIRED POLICE DOG MIKI
RPD Miki served as a general purpose dog with North Yorkshire Police from 2021 to 2025.
He was initially matched with a handler but then relicensed with PC Claire Starkey, who was just returning to work following time off with an injury.
Claire said: “Miki was a pleasure to be paired with and we bonded very quickly.
“Miki was an excellent tracker and I could always rely on him to find what needed to be found, and detain who needed to be detained.”
The six-year-old was forced to retire early after being diagnosed with hi dysplasia, spondylosis and a ruptured cruciate ligament.
Claire said: “Miki is so much more than a police dog to me, he is very much my best mate. So when he started to slow up and limp after work, I worried for him.


“We discovered that his cruciate ligament had ruptured and he had to have surgery to rebuild the ligament.”
Police paid for the surgery and Miki retired to live with Claire but, just a few months later, he began to limp again and vets confirmed that he needs surgery on his other cruciate ligament so we stepped in to help.
Claire added: “Miki is enjoying retired life; he gets to run through the countryside, albeit slowly! And he can have a ball whenever he wants!
“I registered with the Thin Blue Paw to help support all the retired police dogs but I was also very mindful of Miki’s diagnosis and the likely need for more expensive treatment.
“He has been my superhero at work and deserves the very best of health in retirement.
“I understand the financial constraints of our police forces but these dogs give their all for the public without knowing it. I owe it to him to give him the chance for a pain-free future, especially as a young dog.”

“Miki deserves to have a comfortable retirement and chomp his ball to his heart’s content, and I’m grateful to the Thin Blue Paw and all of its supporters for helping me to give that to him.”
Claire, Miki’s former handler and owner
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