MEET

RPD Ziva

Breed of dogBelgian Malinois

Location of servitudePolice Service of Northern Ireland

Type of serviceGeneral Purpose

ConditionRuptured cruciate ligament

Grant amount received£1,100

  • Retired police dog Ziva on a walk
  • Retired police dog Ziva
  • Retired police dog Ziva with her ball

HOW WE HELPED RETIRED POLICE DOG ZIVA IN RETIREMENT

RPD Ziva was bred by the West Midlands Police breeding programme before she embarked on her training.

She was partnered with Police Service Northern Ireland dog handler Sarah at the age of six.

Sarah said: “Ziva was fully trained and an absolute dream to work with.

“Although she was very noisy and totally bananas, she took her work very seriously and always focused on the task ahead. She would have taken on anything!

“The only problem was that she never stopped barking so it was difficult for anyone to hear me on the radio!”

Retired police dog Ziva
Retired police dog Ziva at hydrotherapy

Ziva ruptured her cruciate ligament while she was on duty and needed surgery to repair it before returning to service.

Vets advised that the other cruciate ligament would likely need surgery in the future.

Sarah said: “Ziva is such an active dog so the recovery period was tough for her and I’m doing everything I can to avoid surgery on the other leg.

“She started weekly hydrotherapy, supported by the Thin Blue Paw, which has strengthened and stabilised her leg and she’s doing really well.”

Since she retired, Ziva has settled in well to hew new life and loves spending time with Sarah and her children.

Retired police dog Ziva with her ball

“I would never have been able to afford hydrotherapy without the support of the Thin Blue Paw and, without it, Ziva would likely be having to have surgery by now.”

Sarah, Ziva’s former handler and owner

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