Police dogs and handlers prepare to climb Mount Snowdon for charity

Seven officers from Northamptonshire Police’s Dog Section are set to lace up their hiking boots later this year to climb Mount Snowdon in support of a charity very close to their hearts.

The PCs hiking the 1,085m high peak include Lucy Sculthorpe, Marta Murray, Sean Foster, Ash Price, Dan Bradley-Brophy, Sam Clark and Kyle McGregor – who will also be joined on their adventure by two of their furry colleagues, two-year-old PD Socks and eight-year-old PD Nala.

Nala, who is the Force’s eldest and most experienced dog in service, is set to retire later this year and will be registered with the Thin Blue Paw Foundation. She will join retired PDs Harper and Redd, who both retired from service at Northamptonshire Police and are currently supported by the charity.

Thin Blue Paw Foundation supports serving and retired police dogs from across the UK, providing much needed financial support to the unsung canine heroes whose vet bills are unable to be covered by insurance due to their working life.

The team will complete their climb later this year, once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted to allow the climb to safely take place.

On their reasons for taking on the challenge, PC Marta Murray said: “Our amazing police dogs are our crew mates and best friends. They protect both us and members of the public, locate stolen property, track offenders, as well as find missing, vulnerable people. They are hugely valued members of our specialist teams and their work and commitment is highly appreciated.

“When our dogs retire, their handlers have the option to keep them post-service, or allow them to retire with other suitable people in their forever homes. Unfortunately after retirement there is no support for the medical treatment of the dogs, and it is often not possible to insure them.

“As a result, the work of the Thin Blue Paw Foundation is invaluable in helping to ensure the dogs who have given so much of their lives to serving police forces across the country have a comfortable life when they eventually put their paws up and retire.”

If you’d like to support the team and help them to reach their £2,500 fundraising target, please visit their JustGiving page here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dog-section-northamptonshire

To find out more about the fantastic work of the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, please visit their website here: www.thinbluepaw.org.uk/