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Axel’s life-saving skills
recognised at Crufts
A
German shepherd police dog bred
and trained by the Force’s dog
section won a Humanitarian Action
Award at Crufts, the world’s leading
dog show.
Axel is now working in Fife and was
given the award after leading his handler on a
four-hour track to find a woman who was
missing after falling down a 60 feet ravine in a
remote wood.
“I am really pleased to hear that Axel is
doing so well and that his skills have been
recognised in this way,” says Dave Raymond,
West Midlands Police dog trainer.
“He was 18 months old when he left here
but was already showing great qualities as a
working dog. He loved chasing, was incredibly
focused and could pick up and follow a scent.
That said, it sounds like the track to find this
lady was incredible. In those four hours, he
would have covered some distance.
“We would have liked to have kept him
here as part of our team but at the point
where he had completed his training and was
ready to go out on operational duties all our
dog handlers had dogs. Having passed him on
to another force, it is great that he has become
such an asset to them.”
Axel and his handler, PC Craig Menzies,
Hero Axel as a puppy.
were presented with their award on the
closing day of Crufts which was held at the
NEC in Birmingham from 7 to 10 March.
Police said that the missing woman, a
58-year-old walker, may not have survived if
Axel had not led them to her. He followed her
scent after his handler found her umbrella on
a coastal path.
Axel took him over a golf course, through
a swollen stream and to bushes where the
woman’s cries for help were heard.
Axel was bred out of the dog section’s
main stud dog, Tag.
“Tag has an impeccable temperament and
is a very effective and efficient working dog.
He’s passed on these attributes to his
offspring, with more than 100 dogs he has
sired now working as operational police dogs,
helping officers fight crime, control
disturbances and find missing people,” says
Dave Raymond.
The Force has the largest police dog
breeding scheme in the UK and more than 80
per cent of the dogs put through the training
programme go on to become operational
police dogs.
Puppy walkers wanted!
With three new litters due and one born at the training centre in the last month, the
team are now looking for puppy walkers to give the pups a good home for up to six
months. If you think you have what it takes to care for one of these playful puppies,
please contact West Midlands Police Dog Training Centre on 0345 113 5000.
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