We’ve launched a fundraising appeal to pay for urgent surgery for two dogs who retired from the same police force within just a few months of each other.
Six-year-old German Shepherd Miki served with North Yorkshire Police for four years but was forced to retire early after being diagnosed with hip dysplasia, spondylosis and a ruptured cruciate ligament, which required surgery.
He retired to live with his handler, Claire Starkey, but now needs cruciate ligament surgery for his other leg.
We have stepped in and offered to cover the cost of the Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO) surgery.
Claire said: “Miki was so much more than a police dog to me, he is very much my best mate. So when he started to slow up and limp after work, I worried for him.”
RPD Kenai, a seven-year-old German Shepherd, served North Yorkshire Police as a general purpose and firearms support dog for six years before retiring at the end of 2025.
He was settling into retired life with his new owners well when he had an accident and broke his leg.
Ashley said: “We were playing fetch and as he caught the ball and turned he suddenly yelped. We rushed him to the emergency vets who carried out x-rays and discovered he’d fractured his elbow.”
He was taken in by a specialist referral centre and underwent surgery to repair the fracture on Monday (11 May) and is now recovering at home.
To donate to the fundraising appeal for Miki and Kenai, please visit our JustGiving page.
