DOGS Trust Evesham recently welcomed a special visit from the prison service, which brought its annual dog trials to the rehoming centre for the first time to showcase the impressive skills of its canine unit.
The trials saw working officers and their dogs compete under time pressure to earn points, with the most successful dogs progressing to further competitions.
All the officers participated voluntarily, putting themselves and their dogs forward to demonstrate their bond and abilities.
This visit was the result of a growing relationship between the service and the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, following rehoming centre assistant manager, Tracey Spiers being invited to observe the trials at a prison service venue last year.
“It was an absolute privilege to host the trials. Watching the dogs work with such focus and drive was incredible. You could really see the strength of the bond between each handler and their dog. Our staff were so inspired, and it also gave us ideas about some of our own dogs who might thrive in working roles. It was a brilliant day all round,” Tracey said.
The trials demonstrated the incredible potential working dogs possess and the importance of strong partnerships between humans and animals.
Lead trainer and specialist officer dog handler for the prison service, Patrick Cloke said that the day was just as rewarding for the team of officers and dogs involved, and added: “We’re so grateful to the team at Dogs Trust Evesham for welcoming us so warmly and allowing us to use their fantastic facilities.
“The relationship between the service and the charity has grown naturally, and it’s great to see how much we can learn from each other. It was also wonderful to see how much the centre staff enjoyed watching our dogs in action.”
“We work together to help find forever homes for dogs from a working point of view, which we have done extremely successfully over the years from numerous Dog Trust centres up and down the country.”
Visit dogstrust.org.uk/evesham for information about adopting a dog.
