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'Happy tears' as rescue dog completes police training

Ross Pollard
BBC News, Somerset
BBC A brown spaniel on a lead sits on a lino floor. The legs of people in black police-issue trousers and boots are visible, as is an office chair. BBC
Chester is now a member of Avon and Somerset Police's dog unit

A woman who donated her rescue spaniel to the police says she had a "happy cry" at the ceremony to mark the completion of his training.

Katie Ballance contacted Avon and Somerset Police after seeing the force's appeal for working dogs on social media.

She had been fostering Chester and was searching for a permanent home for him but feared he would be "passed around from home to home" because of his high energy.

Ms Ballance said she was happy knowing he would have "the best life a dog could have" with his handler.

A woman in a cream shirt, black top and cream trousers stands next to a young girl in a leopard print fleece in front of a row of parked police vehicles.
Katie Ballance and her daughter Willow attended Chester's graduation

Speaking to BBC West at Chester's graduation ceremony in Clevedon, Somerset, Ms Ballance said said got a call from police within hours of emailing them about Chester.

An officer came to conduct an assessment the following day, eight weeks later and he is now an official police dog.

"I could have found him any home in a heartbeat, but the way that he was, I knew that I would be contacted and they would say, 'we're having problems with Chester, we can't control him'," she said.

"This sort of a dog, if they're not stimulated, they then go on to misbehave - he is a working dog so he needs to be in a working environment."

Ms Ballance added: "I did have a little cry when I saw him come in to get his certification but it was a happy cry because I'm so proud."

Sgt Nick Dalrymple, training manager of Avon and Somerset Police's dog unit, said the dogs are needed "on a daily basis" to sniff out drugs, but also cash and firearms in buildings and vehicles.

A man in a police-issue black jacket looks at the camera. He is standing in a field in front of a grey van with its boot open. A spaniel sits in a crate in the back.
Sgt Nick Dalrymple says the search dogs are needed "on a daily basis"

"It's just so rewarding," Sgt Dalrymple said.

"We're achieving two things simultaneously and to incorporate dog welfare with actually fighting crime - where else would you get that combination?"

"Chester's amazing, he's flown through the course but he's now got a great life ahead of him with a handler that loves him to bits, takes him home every night to his family.

"Then (Chester) to go to work with his dad every day, what could be better?"

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