Charity donates sniffer dog to Cumbria Police

A new crime-busting hound has joined the ranks at Cumbria Police thanks to charity Sniffer Dogs UK and International (SDUKI).

Canine crime fighter Leo joined the dog section this week, and he will be trained to assist in policing operations, where his highly tuned nose will help officers sniff out offenders, drugs, stolen items and explosives.

SDUKI is the brainchild of Maggie Gwynne from Hampshire, who has spent 25 years raising funds for various charities, most recently, The Hants & IOW Air Ambulance, and Macmillan Cancer Support. The charity also intends to fund a completely new section of sniffer dogs for The Gambia, to be trained by the UK Police, to disrupt the importation of Class A drugs into the UK, at source.

Leo is the first to be funded by SDUKI. Staffordshire Police will be receiving funding within the next two months for a specialist explosives dog.

Maggie said: “SDUKI is delighted to have funded our very first specialist dog, for Cumbria Police, alongside two lots of kennelling for existing police dogs. Our aim is to help any dog section, anywhere in the country, by strengthening their numbers and providing money for kennelling, training equipment, and training for handlers up to instructor level. In this way, we will all be helping the police to help us, and keep us safe from the scourge of drugs and crime, and the threat of terrorist activity.”

Sgt Mark Yielder, who heads up Cumbria Constabulary’s dog section said: “Leo will work alongside our existing dogs and is a welcome addition to the team.

“He will work with his handler, PC Charlie Sowerby, to track and locate missing people and criminals who make off from the scene of a crime. Leo will also be used to locate and find missing or stolen property that has either been discarded or concealed, and in public order situations such as football matches.

“We already have a strong team of dogs and handlers, but Maggie’s fundraising means we can provide an even more effective service to the local community and the millions of people who come to Cumbria to enjoy our beautiful scenery."

Leo is a 2-yr-old Malinois and is ideal for the role because of the breed’s high work drive, excellent sense of smell and all round physical attributes.

For more information on SDUKI see the website http://www.sduki.com/. Donations can be made either online, or by cheque payable to SDUKI, and sent to 9 Oakdene, Totton, Hants, SO40 8FW. To contact SDUKI or to organise your own event, call 07739 096 538.