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MEET
RPD Shamus
Labrador
Sussex Police
Search & Detection
Epilepsy
£1,800
2010 – 2024
HOW WE HELPED RETIRED POLICE DOG SHAMUS IN RETIREMENT
RPD Shamus joined British Transport Police for the 2012 London Olympics as a search and detection dog and, once the Games were over, was moved to Sussex Police to work with handler, Michele Innes, and her springer spaniel, Ted.
The trio were stationed at Gatwick Airport where they worked hard to keep travellers and aircraft safe, as well as being deployed at large events.
Michele said: “One of the most memorable jobs the three of us worked on was the closure of the airport in 2017 following the French bombings, when we also arrested a man with a firearm and a hoax device.”
Michele, who served the police for 30 years spending 25 years with the dog unit, now works in the police control room.


She said: “Ted and Shamus were both by my side until my retirement in February 2019 when the three of us all retired together.”
Shamus suffered from epilepsy so wasn’t insurable and Michele registered him with us for support.
She said: “With two retired dogs, both with ongoing medical needs, the charity assisted in helping me keep them fit and well.”
We paid for his regular medication until he went into kidney failure and had to be put to sleep in 2024.
Michele added: “His medication cost around £80 a month alone; without the help of the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, I’d have struggled to cope.”

IN MEMORY OF
RPD SHAMUS 2010-2024
“Shamus was a laugh a minute; adorable, naughty and great fun. He had the quickest nose I’d known; especially when it came to food, leading to quite a few embarrassing antics!” – Michele
BENEFICIARIES OF OUR GRANTS

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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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