A hero cop dog who saved a man’s life on his first ever shift has been awarded for his bravery.
PD Dutch made quite the memorable debut on the force after rescuing a vulnerable man from death.
The two-year-old dog and his handler PC Josh Lindley were called to the scene following reports of a missing person.
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The man had made threats that he was ‘going to harm himself’ springing the duo into action.
The pair deployed to a popular country park in Hartlepool.
Despite terrible rainy conditions and a lot of footfall in the area Dutch, the Belgian Malinois, was able to pick up the correct track.
Dragging his handler into the undergrowth the pair discovered the man who had walked into the woodland.
The 35-year-old from Hartlepool believes that without Dutch the situation “could’ve ended differently.”
The pair have now been handed the Lifesaver Award by Thin Blue Paw.
They will bee handed the trophy at a special ceremony held at the Kennel Club today (24 Sept), as reported by Need To Know.
The event was hosted by TV presenter Radzi Chinyanganya and organised by the Thin Blue Paw Foundation.
PC Lindley said: “It wasn’t a huge track but the conditions were quite challenging and there were a lot of distractions.
“It was raining and there had been a lot of footfall in the area but Dutch was able to quickly pick up the correct scent.
“Dutch was off and he soon dragged me into the undergrowth, I couldn’t really see but he pulled me in and we found the man.
“I’m really proud of Dutch; tracking isn’t our strongest skill but he was really focused and showed the difference he could make.”
Kieran Stanbridge, Chairman said: “The Thin Blue Paw Foundation was set up to celebrate, protect and support both working and retired police dogs across the UK.
“Every day, police dogs and their handlers put their lives on the line to protect the public and fight crime.
“We launched the Thin Blue Paw Awards to celebrate these incredible dogs and everything they achieve in the line of duty, from the rookie rising stars who have started their careers with a bang, to the retiring dogs with years of finds and arrests under their collars.
“This year we celebrated our fifth birthday, so it feels fitting to have such an incredible roster of award winners who represent the very finest in policing.
“We’re very proud to be able to honour them all, and celebrate their amazing achievements.”
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