The Thin Blue Paw Awards: An annual ceremony in the UK where police dogs and their handlers receive recognition for outstanding service or remarkable acts of courage. One of the categories is the Lifesaver award, usually given when the police dog has undertaken a rescue involving great danger. In 2022, however, the award went to a dog that during her service had an almost unparalleled record of saving lives.
Vulnerable individuals: Those who suffer cognitive impairment due to health issues such as neurological illnesses, brain injuries (trauma) or mental disorders. They may be adults or children..
Do you have a holiday every year? Imagine working every day for eight years; however, you enjoy your job so much that going to work is what you look forward to. Given a choice, you would continue until you drop, but unfortunately, company rules force you into retirement.
So what do you do? Where do you go? The beach, maybe? It won’t come as a surprise that when Luna retired, her first trip was to the seaside, where she played on the beach and swam in the sea. After 8 years of uninterrupted service, I guess nobody would begrudge a retiree a day at the beach.
And who is Luna? Well, Luna is a retired police dog who had a rather unusual speciality. Yes, she could track criminals and deal with them appropriately, but her rather unique talent was to find missing people who were considered vulnerable.
Scotland attracts visitors from all over the world who have come not only to experience the unique culture but also the incredible landscape. Finding a lost soul in these sometimes unforgiving conditions presents special challenges to dogs and their handlers.
Helicopters and heat-seeking equipment are huge advances, but at the end of the day, when this technology is unavailable, particularly in bad weather, finding the missing relies heavily on the skills of dogs like Luna. Like her contemporaries, she understands that finding a criminal and indicating to the suspect that if they don’t instantly surrender, then the consequences will be a confrontation with a very annoyed police dog. This, however, is in direct contrast to the approach required in finding a vulnerable person. These individuals, due to their medical issues, can be frightened and will sometimes even try to hide from the very people who are trying to help them. Luna had that almost unique quality that allowed her to take down villains but was blessed with a compassionate temperament that allowed he to find those who were distressed without causing them any more anguish.
PC Linda McBride and Luna were partnered in December 2012 when Luna was 12 weeks old. Slow and careful training started, and by the time Luna was 2 years old, she was a fully trained police dog. During her career, Luna is credited with finding and saving 38 people. Due to the sometimes harsh climatic conditions, their injuries or health issues, many of these people would have undoubtedly perished.
An example of her many successes was a man who had gone missing after being released from the hospital. Luna tracked him to a railway line before any more harm could come to him. Another was finding a vulnerable man missing from his home. Luna finally tracked him down, hiding in the bushes and suffering from hypothermia. He was immediately transferred to the hospital and survived the experience. It is reported that the man later contacted Linda to thank her and Luna.
In one of their more bizarre jobs in 2015, Luna found a missing finger tip that had been bitten off during a fight. The missing part digit was delivered to the hospital so that surgeons could attempt to reattach it.
There were, of course, humorous moments, if you can call them that. On one occasion, while tracking a suspect over rough terrain, they came across a wide ditch, which Luna jumped over with ease. Linda was left holding the tracking line and attempted the crossing, but sadly ended up waist-deep in disgusting, smelly ditch water, and as she emerged, in Linda’s own words, Luna tilted her head and gave the look that said it all. “Seriously, Mum!”
Upon retirement in 2022, Luna was presented with the Thin Blue Paw Lifesaver award.
“I am very proud of her and everything that she has achieved. When I found out that she had won the Lifesaver award, I was blown away. I cried.”
“Saying I am proud of Luna is an understatement. I burst with pride at how much she has achieved, and our bond will never be broken, and for that I am extremely grateful.”
Even though she is retired, Luna continues to live with Linda. The household now consists not only of Linda and her elderly mother but also includes Luna’s successor, German Shepherd Police Dog Saul, and Cocker Spaniel Police Dog Spud. I have no idea what particular expertise Police Dog Spud has, probably drugs, firearms or money, but doesn’t he have just a great name….Spud!!
NB. Retired police dogs in the UK do not receive a pension and are totally reliant on whoever adopts them to finance their retirement. Every day, approximately 1500 police dogs risk their lives to protect the public. Unfortunately, not every police handler can adopt their retired dog, and some have to be found homes. After years of arduous service, they sometimes need expensive veterinary care, and the fact that any animal that has served with the emergency services is reliant on a charity to provide finance for their welfare is a national disgrace. Sadly, a continual failing of successive governments.
“In a k9 police dog team the human is always the weak link. We are forgetful, and our enthusiasm waxes and wanes. Dogs love to work and they forget nothing.”
David Alton Hedges
With subtitle or not?