Badger and three other pups were abandoned in Redhill, Surrey, in July 2019. Starving, scared and sick, his future looked bleak when he was found dumped in a bucket as a puppy.

A puppy that was found thrown in a bucket has become a police dog. Badger was during a ll|one amongst|one in every of one among four six-week-old cocker spaniels discovered abandoned in a garden in Redhill, Surrey, in July 2019. Due to severe scabies, these poor pups are almost bald, suffer from chronic eye and ear infections, and are extremely malnourished and underweight.

They were later taken in by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (RSPCA) Millbrook Animal Center. Jo Douglas, from the center, said: “The poor puppies were during a real state. They needed four differing types of eye drops and two ear drops which had to be administered fourfold each day , plus medicated baths for his or her skin.” After weeks of treatment the puppies – who were initially named after Stranger Things characters, El, Lucas, Mike and Dustin (now renamed Badger) – were rehomed.

With the exception of Dustin, all of them thrive in their new loving home, Dustin was proven unable to cope and was sent back to the center.

However, this is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the puppy. Jo said: “Dustin was always on the go and needed constant stimulation and, sadly, he was just too much for his new owners so he came back to us.

“We kept him busy by hiding tennis balls around the center and playing scent games with him. “He loved it and was specialized at following his nose, so we contacted the police to ascertain if they’d have an interest in taking him on as a replacement recruit.” Dustin subsequently joined the Surrey and Sussex working dog Unit’s training programme and qualified as a sniffer dog six months ago.

He was paired with PC Steph Barrett, who renamed him Badger, and he now spends his days sniffing out drugs, weapons and cash. Steph said: “I was saddened to listen to how Badger had been dumped on the side of the road but, because of the RSPCA, he’s been given a second chance.

“After tons of affection and training, he has regained trust in humans and become a true success story. He’s still very mischievous sometimes, but that’s all a part of the challenge.

“When he hears the radio explode, he squeals excitedly and that I don’t even need to ask him to urge in the van. He’s a joy to figure with. He’s hard to not love. “He’s still got that cheeky side to him but he’s hooked in to work and he makes me smile all day.

PD Badger has found many discoveries in this work, including large amounts of money and medicine, and a mobile phone hidden in the church grounds.