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MEET
RPD Sam
Springer Spaniel
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Search & Detection
Cruciate ligament
£1,900
HOW WE HELPED RETIRED POLICE DOG SAM IN RETIREMENT
RPD Sam was rescued as an unwanted stray in Northern Ireland in 2013 and was taken on by Police Service Northern Ireland at just 10-months-old.
He was matched with dog handler Emma, who said: “Sam was rescued by a local charity after ending up at a council pound. He was rehomed twice but returned for being too hyper.”
Police trainers felt he’d be a great search and detection dog and he became a proactive cash, drugs and firearms search dog, working on countless operations for more than six years.
He also visited schools and community groups where he ‘won everyone over with his gorgeous nature’.


Sam retired in 2021 and was adopted by Emma, who added: “Sam means the world to me; he really is the best boy.”
Unfortunately, he ruptured his cruciate ligament during a walk and needed major surgery so he could get back on all four paws.
After an extended stay at the vets following complications, he returned home to recover but Emma was worried about how she’d pay the bill. We stepped in to help with the costs.
“It was such a huge relief when I could bring him home,” Emma added. “Thankfully he soon started wagging his tail again.”

“I’m so grateful to the Thin Blue Paw Foundation for covering the costs of Sam’s surgery. It’s great to know that they’re there to help dogs like Sam and to give them the lives they deserve after they retire from service.”
Emma, Sam’s former handler and owner
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

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