BBC News
Published
image copyrightThames Valley Police & PC Camilla Carter
image captionTrained to detect the scent of explosives, PC Carter and PD Roxy carry out security sweeps before high-profile public events
A rescue dog which helped protect the Royal Family has become the first Staffordshire bull terrier to carry out explosives searches.
Five-year-old Roxy was abandoned in 2017 and taken to the RSPCA s West Hatch Animal Centre in Somerset.
Staff spotted her potential and contacted Avon and Somerset Police.
PC Camilla Carter said: To see her working and know she s a rescue dog whose life could have been so much different makes me so proud.
Royal guard: Rescue dog Roxy now on hero duty for British Royals
This rescued staffie has transformed into a dog that protects the British Royal family with her explosive sense of smell.
An unwanted staffie who was rescued by the RSPCA after being abandoned, has transformed into a life-saving explosives search dog who protects the British Royal family.
Five-year-old Roxy was rescued by RSPCA officers after being abandoned in 2017 and was taken in by the charity’s West Hatch Animal Centre in Somerset.
Spotting Roxy’s potential
The staff – who have spent more than a decade working with police forces to identify and supply rescue dogs to training programmes – soon spotted Roxy’s potential.
Abandoned Staffie given new life helping Hampshire police sniff out danger A “SUPERSTAR” Staffie found unwanted four years ago has received a new lease of life as a protection dog at events featuring the royal family and other VIPs. Roxy, the first explosives search Staffie in the UK, was rescued by RSPCA officers in 2017 after being abandoned by her owner. She now helps sniff out danger for Hampshire and Thames Valley police’s specialist search unit, recently helping ensure the safety of events such as Princess Beatrice’s wedding and the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral. While German shepherds, Labradors and spaniels are more commonly known for their police work, staff spotted potential in Roxy when she came into the care of West Hatch Animal Centre in Somerset.
ANGRY residents have called for action from Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire Council after a swan was covered in a black substance which had contaminated a local pond. They say the pond off Mane Way has been turned from a mini-nature reserve into a local drugs den and is littered with rubbish left behind by youths and adults who frequent the area. Owen Singer, from nearby Penleigh Farm at Dilton Marsh, said: “I am horrified that oil has contaminated the balancing pond and wild life at the end of our track. “Sadly I am not surprised, we suffer from an incredible amount of fly tipping and littering from I hope a minority of despicable ignorant people.