Police dog retirements

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.027073

I note you seek access to the following information:

What happens to a police dog when it is due for retirement?

Do you re home them all?

What happens if you have a dog unsuitable for re homing?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - What happens to a police dog when it is due for retirement?

In almost all cases the handler that worked the dog keeps it in retirement as a pet.

Q2 - Do you re home them all?

As per above, in the very rare occasions that the handler does not keep the dog as a pet we maintain a list of people who wish to rehome a retired dog and its rehomed.

Q3 - What happens if you have a dog unsuitable for re homing?

The MPS do not hold any information regarding retired dogs that were unsuitable to be rehomed. The dog will remain in MPS kennels until rehomed or transferred to the security industry if still young enough to work.