Meet a 20-month-old Cocker Spaniel who works in the Surrey and Sussex Dog Unit alongside his trusted partner, PC Steph Barrett. The pup’s job is to assist his partner and sniff out drugs, money, and weapons. The pup not only does an amazing job in his work, but he is also a valuable asset to the police force. But life hasn’t always been good for this brave and hardworking pup.
Not too long ago, a kind-hearted person who lives in Surrey discovered four sick and abandoned puppies. The puppies were completely neglected, their fur had many patches, and their ears and eyes were infected. They were immediately brought to Millbrook Animal Centre in Chobham and were treated by staff. There the puppies received much-needed medication and attention.
As time went by, the puppies recovered from their sickly state and blossomed into beautiful pups ready for adoption. The staff members fondly named the fur pups after the characters of the hit TV series: ‘Stranger Things.’ And so the puppies came to be named Dustin, Lucas, El, and Mike. In time they were all adopted into loving new families, and for a while, it seemed as if they all got their forever family.
But it didn’t end up well with Dustin. Eventually, Dustin was returned to the center. According to the pup’s adopters, Dustin was a handful for them and was constantly on the go. From being abandoned and now returned, it didn’t seem like Dustin had found his place in this big world just yet. In the meantime, the staff members at the center preoccupied Dustin with activities and games like hiding tennis balls and playing scent searching games.
And just like that, they discovered Dustin’s extraordinary talent of sniffing things out. One phone call to the police and Dustin was recruited into the Surrey and Sussex Dog Unit, where the pup was trained and, most importantly, loved. The pup started a new chapter in his life and was given a new name, Badger. Though the pup can get mischievous at times, his partner, PC Steph Barrett, admits that it is simply part of the fun.
All dogs have a place in this world. Whether they have a hard start in life like Badger’s or an easier one, they will eventually find where they belong. Their full potential needs time to be noticed, and who knows where it could take them. Badger’s success story is every pup’s success story.
Credits to Millbrook Animal Centre (RSPCA), Chobham