Retired police canine taken for stroll day after surgical procedure stuns proprietor with heroic act

A remarkable retired police dog has shown just how hard it can be to leave your career behind. Bear the German Shepherd, 12, had gone for his first walk after undergoing surgery treating a pair of benign tumours. But while he was out enjopying the stroll, near the Eastbourne area of East Sussex, his instincts kicked in.

Bear found a missing man who is known to have been vulnerable – meaning there really is no such thing as an off duty, or retired, police officer. His owner Julia Pope is a former copper herself and she noted Bear, who had been celebrating his 12th birthday that day, suddenly “went into work mode”.

She said Bear became aware of the situation, sensing the individual and “started indicating towards an area of dense undergrowth”.

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Ms Pope said: “This was his first proper walk since his surgery and we thought it would be a gentle wander but then it ended up being quite dramatic.

“Bear went into work mode, he suddenly stopped and started indicating towards an area of dense undergrowth – and then dragged us to it, where he located and alerted us to a vulnerable man.

“The man was confused, wet, cold and had fallen over, and was unable to get up unaided. I’m not sure he would have survived the night as it was extremely cold and almost dark at that point with no-one else in the vicinity.

“The area was off the beaten track and would be very easy to get lost in, especially in the dark. Unbeknownst to us, the man was a vulnerable missing person who officers had been searching for without any success.

“We were able to assist the man back to an area where we could co-ordinate with police officers who had been searching for him and thankfully reunite with him with his family, with Bear leading the way back.

“It’s an amazing stroke of luck really that we were in the right place at the right time – two former police officers and a retired police dog.”

Bear was adopted by Pope in 2020 following his retirement. His handler wasn’t able to keep him, but luckily he found a new home, from which Bear has continued working as a trauma support dog.

He is supported by the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, which helps rehabilitate working dogs. Bear has lost the use of his rear legs last summer due to herniated disks in his spine.

Thin Blue Paw trustee Kieran Stanbridge said: “RPD Bear is a true hero – his training and instinct kicked in and he managed to lead his owners, who are former police officers themselves, to this vulnerable man who needed urgent help.

“Thanks to Bear, the man received the help he needed from local officers; even in his retirement, he’s still saving lives.”

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