MEET

RPD Nero

Breed of dogGerman Shepherd

Location of servitudeNottinghamshire Police

Type of serviceGeneral Purpose

ConditionInfected paws

Grant amount received£320

  • Retired police dog Nero
  • Retired police dog Nero sleeping
  • Nero swimming

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RETIRED POLICE DOG NERO

RPD Nero worked with West Mercia Police as a general purpose dog until retiring in summer 2025.

The seven-year-old German Shepherd didn’t have the smoothest career but once he was matched with a new handler he blossomed into a fabulous police dog, winning two commendations including one for helping to find a missing woman who’d fled from domestic violence.

Demelza, who previously worked for the police, had put her name down to adopt a retired police dog in 2021 and waited patiently until she got the call about Nero four years later!

She said: “Nero is a strong-willed but cheeky boy with lots of energy. He has a mischievous streak in him and always seems to get himself into trouble!”

Demelza with Nero
Retired police dog Nero sleeping

During his career, Nero had to have surgery after getting a blockage in his intestines.

Just 12 hours after Demelza brought Nero home, he fell seriously ill with gastric torsion (when the stomach twists and fills with air/fluid) and needed life-saving surgery. The force paid the bill.

Just a few months later, Nero fell ill again after eating two sanitary towels which he pulled from a bin. The emergency vet was called out and, thankfully, Nero passed the towels naturally a few days later.  

But Demelza was faced with a £600 vet bill. Thankfully, she’d registered with the Foundation and we stepped in to pay the bill.

Retired police dog Nero at the beach

“I’d registered with the Thin Blue Paw and they graciously covered Nero’s bill. He’s not rifled through the bins or attempted to steal anything again so it seems he’s learnt his lesson!“

Demelza, Nero’s owner

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