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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Nia Dalton

Dog rescued from 'horrific' puppy farm joins police to help fight crime

A young Labrador who started life on a "filthy" puppy farm is now working as a valued police dog helping to tackle crime.

When PC Bonnie isn't sniffing out dangerous drugs, firearms or ammunition, she's playing with her tennis ball and snuggling up to her handler, PC Rich Hunt.

Bonnie was just six months old when she was rescued from a "unhygienic and hazardous" puppy farm by the RSPCA in South Wales.

After being nursed back to health, RSPCA staff quickly spotted her potential in the police force.

Bonnie is now qualified as a search dog with Gloucestershire Constabulary, and will soon be busy doing drug searches and warrants.

She was saved from a puppy farm with 20 other dogs (RSPCA)
Gloucestershire police saw potential in Bonnie (RSPCA)

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RSPCA Inspector Gemma Cooper, who rescued Bonnie and investigated her case, said: "I was horrified by the animals' overall health condition and the environments in which they were being kept."

She described the makeshift kennels as "filthy" and "smelly", with no appropriate beds, water bowls or comfortable areas to rest.

"They were all terrified of the outside world," Gemma said. "It was clear from their reactions that they were not properly socialised and spent the majority of their time locked up in these pens and away from life."

Bonnie's previous owners - a man and woman from South Wales - were taken to court and given suspended prison sentences, community orders, fines and disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years, after pleading guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act on February 11.

PC Bonnie training with PD Stella the Staffie (RSPCA)

After spotting her potential, Bonnie was fostered by PC Claire Todd and joined her veteran police dog, PD Stella, for training.

Bonnie now lives and works with PC Rich Hunt and his German shepherd PD Django, who she loves.

While Bonnie has found her destiny as a search dog, she did initially join the fire service as a recover dog, but failed their tests because she "didn't like going into dark, confined areas".

"It doesn't surprise me knowing where she had been rescued from and what her early-life experiences were," PC Hunt said.

"Bonnie is so loving and friendly, it's amazing when you think about the awful start she had, but she's so happy now.

"She's great at her job because she loves a tennis ball and her drive for play means she has a great drive for work; it's a big, fun game to her!"

To help the RSPCA continue their work please donate online or via the phone on 0300 123 8181.

Do you have a dog story to sell? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.

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