MEET
RPD Stella
German Shepherd
Derbyshire Constabulary
General Purpose
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RETIRED POLICE DOG STELLA
RPD Stella joined Derbyshire Constabulary in 2019 and was paired with handler Adam Richmond.
He said: “We were paired in a fate meeting and I knew instantly that we had a connection and that she would be a perfect police dog.
“A lot of people doubted Stella; she was a smaller German Shepherd and people weren’t sure about her capabilities. But I can honestly say I never had any doubts that Stella would protect me and, throughout her career, she proved me right time and time again.
“Stella became one of Derbyshire’s most formidable dogs but what made her so special to me is how she integrated into my family and with my children. She became a huge part of my family.”
Stella served with Adam for six years until retiring in 2025 and has thankfully been in good health since.
Adam added: “Stella had the ability to transition from a police dog to a loving family pet. During one night shift we disturbed two burglars, one of whom turned violent and tried to attack us. Stella showed total bravery and took him to the ground.
“Just a few hours later she was playing in the garden with my children having a water fight!
“Now she spends her days on hikes with our family and sleeping in the sun on the kids’ trampoline which is her favourite place to be.
“She loves ice cream and enjoys spending time with her former partner, search and detection dog PD Ziggy, and her replacement police dog Valco.”
“When the Thin Blue Paw attended our dog section I was really taken by Kieran’s passion and the Foundation’s view on retired police dogs; I wanted Stella and myself to be a part of it.”
Adam, Stella’s former handler and owner
BENEFICIARIES OF OUR GRANTS
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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 Lizi
German Shepherd
Ministry of Defence Police
General Purpose
Mass removal
£780 -
RPD Buzz
Belgian Malinois
North Yorkshire Police
General Purpose
Growth removal
£1,080 -
RPD Mack
German Shepherd
Kent Police
General Purpose
Pancreatitis
£1,000 -
RPD Carly
Labrador
Ministry of Defence Police
Search & Detection
Cancer
£750 -
RPD Riley
German Shepherd
Derbyshire Constabulary
General Purpose
Sepsis
£7,000 -
RPD Nero
German Shepherd
West Mercia Police
General Purpose
Stomach blockage
£600 -
RPD Monty
German Shepherd
Nottinghamshire Police
General Purpose
Infected paws
£320 -
RPD Tyco
Belgian Malinois
RAF Police
Guard & Patrol
Arthritis
£90 monthly -
RPD Fizz
Belgian Malinois
Ministry of Defence Police
General Purpose
Arthritis
£60 monthly -
RPD Nipper
German Shepherd
Norfolk and Suffolk Police
General Purpose
Enlarged prostate
£700 -
RPD Stan
Springer Spaniel
Metropolitan Police
Search & Detection
Pancreatitis
£400 -
RPD Wookie
Cocker Spaniel
Kent Police
Search & Detection
Abscess
£570 -
RPD Lenny
German Shepherd
South Yorkshire Police
General Purpose
Perineal hernia
£2,375
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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