MEET
RPD Sox
Springer Spaniel
Surrey Police
Search & Detection
Growth
£70
MEET RETIRED POLICE DOG SOX
What are the highlights from Sox’s career?
“During her career, Sox had over 1,000 drugs, cash and firearms searches. Her first ever find was more than 50,000 Euros and £25,000 in cash!”
What does retirement look like for Sox?
“Sox and my other retired police dog, Fiji, worked together and are now retired together and they’re the best of friends so they love going on walks and playing together, as well as sleeping with each other. We all play rugby at the weekend and Sox is always there at the sidelines!”
What’s your favourite memory with Sox since her retirement?
“Representing the Thin Blue Paw Foundation and laying a wreath with Sox at the Animals in War Memorial on Remembrance Day is one of my favourite memories, as well as attending Crufts with the charity.”
What are Sox’s favourite things?
“We have a caravan and Sox loves to come on camping holidays with the whole family – especially if she gets a sausage off the barbecue!”
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RETIRED POLICE DOG SOX
RPD Sox joined Surrey Police in 2014 when she was just a year old.
She passed her search and detection training course and was paired with a handler but, when she went on maternity leave, she was re-handled by PC Claire Bird.
Claire said: “She was brilliant at finding cash, drugs and firearms; I called her Super Sox. She was a super dog.”
The pair worked at lots of different locations and events during their career, including searching St Paul’s Cathedral and supporting policing efforts at Royal events in Surrey, Sussex and London.
In October 2022, at the age of nine, Sox retired and went to live with Claire and her family in West Sussex along with Claire’s other retired police dog, Fiji, who is her best friend.
Sox has had relatively good health but has lost her hearing so Claire is now teaching her hand signals so she can continue to communicate with her.
The Foundation supported Sox in 2026 when she needed a consultation to check a growth. Claire has relied on the Foundation for help with life-saving treatment for her other RPDs.
“I am so grateful to the Thin Blue Paw for helping Sox and my other retired police dog, Fiji, over the years. Having their support is such a weight off our minds.“
Claire, Sox’s former handler and owner
BENEFICIARIES OF OUR GRANTS
-
RPD Oscar
Labrador
Ministry of Defence Police
Search & Detection
Arthritis
£550 -
RPD Miky
Belgian Malinois
Ministry of Defence Police
General Purpose
Bladder inflamation
£1,200 -
RPD Polly
Belgian Malinois cross
Sussex Police
General Purpose
Infection
£4,000 -
RPD Chips
Springer Spaniel
Humberside Police
Search & Detection
Arthritis
£250 -
RPD Reni
Dutch Herder
Ministry of Defence Police
General Purpose
Biopsy of lump
£300 -
RPD Meg
Spaniel cross Labrador
North Yorkshire Police
Search & Detection
Periodontal disease
£400 -
RPD Kola
German Shepherd
Surrey Police
General Purpose
Hip dysplasia
£550 -
RPD Tomi
German Shepherd
Ministry of Defence Police
General Purpose
Gastric torsion
£4,000 -
RPD Arnold
German Shepherd
Derbyshire Constabulary
General Purpose
Arthritis and allergies
£150 -
RPD Skye
German Shepherd
Derbyshire Constabulary
General Purpose
Growth removal
£600 -
RPD Phantom
German Shepherd
Sussex Police
General Purpose
Prostate cysts
£1,000 -
RPD Hunter
Labrador
Bedfordshire Police
Search & Detection
Pancreatitis
£200 -
RPD Krow
German Shepherd
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
General Purpose
Diabetes
£80 monthly -
RPD Max
Springer Spaniel
Sussex Police
Search & Detection
Growth removal
£580 -
RPD Izzy
Belgian Malinois
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Conflict management
Vomiting blood
£2674 -
RPD Arni
German Shepherd
Ministry of Defence Police
General Purpose
Cancer
£2,000 -
RPD Szor
German Shepherd
Ministry of Defence Police
General Purpose
Arthritis
£500 -
RPD Kez
German Shepherd
Northamptonshire Police
General Purpose
Musculoskeletal injury
£800
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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