11-07-2025
Stray pup goes from life on the streets to police recruit
An eight-week-old stray puppy has been welcomed as a new recruit at a North Eastern police force.
The Belgian Malinois, now named Jager, was found roaming the streets of Hartlepool last week when it was picked up by officers and taken to animal charity Stray Aid.
Staff there said they noticed the dog's potential and alerted Durham Constabulary's Dog Support Unit.
Jager is now officially in training as a general purpose police dog.
If all goes well, the puppy will be licensed and ready for duty within 12 to 18 months. A Durham Constabulary spokesman described Jager as 'already a pro at tug of war'.
General purpose dogs are trained to chase down suspects, track missing people, and support officers on the front line.
While German Shepherds remain the most common breed used by police, Dutch Herders and Belgian Malinois like Jager are increasingly used as part of the pack.
Jager isn't the only new four-legged recruit at Durham Police. Earlier this month, the force introduced three explosive detection dogs – springer spaniels Gracie, Angus and Teddy – who recently passed their final assessments after a six-week course.
Gracie was adopted from a rescue charity, Angus came through the force's own puppy development programme, and Teddy was donated by a member of the public.
The trio will be deployed across County Durham and Darlington, and will also assist with high-profile events across the UK.
