Pooches Pose For ‘Paws Off Duty’ Calendar

The police dogs of North Wales have put their best paws forward for a new charity calendar. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 2017 calendar features dogs from the North Wales Police Dog Section and hopes to raise money for the North Wales Police Retired Dogs Charity, Paws Off Duty, which was launched over 18 months ago. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Last year the first calendar was a resounding success with £2235 raised from the sales. This year the charity hopes to raise double the funds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The charity, established by PC Jackie Edwards from the Dog Section, has been created to assist with the day to day costs of looking after the K9 unit once they’ve retired. This includes the cost of veterinary expenses such as vaccinations and veterinary treatment. The charity has raised over £5000 from when it was first introduced through the sale of calendars, trolley coins, wristbands, ‘pup’ cakes and through donations received through events and talks attended by our handlers and their dogs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sergeant Howard Watts from the Dog Section said: “This is the second calendar for the ‘Paws off Duty’ fund; last year’s calendar was a resounding success and was universally well received. However, as good as last year’s calendar was, this year the ‘Paws off Duty’ committee have outdone themselves. I have no doubt that everybody will agree when they see it that this year’s calendar is even better – I myself have bought three!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As many of the dogs as possible have been featured in the calendar – we have seen some new puppy additions to the section this year, you may see these in the calendar also!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our dogs continue to provide a fantastic service for the communities of North Wales, and it’s only right that we do all that we can to ensure that they have the best possible life after retirement.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Under police regulations, dogs used for general purpose or drugs work are paid for by the force until they retire, often between the ages of eight and ten-years-old. But once they leave the force, all funding from the force ceases, and all costs then sit with the dog’s handler, or if the dog has been re-homed, the new owner. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The price for the calendar is £5.99 and they can be purchased via The Farm and Pet Place stores across North Wales or via their website. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​