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Nottinghamshire’s canine cops are getting a new home worth £200,000 – after the RSPCA said it was concerned about their outdated old kennels.
The police dog unit at Sherwood Lodge in Arnold is being given a new complex after talks between Notts Police and the RSPCA.
It will house some of the force’s furry boys in blue, which include animals trained to chase and bring down criminals, as well as dogs which can sniff out drugs, guns and even hidden cash.
Featuring better pens and new training facilities, the unit will be complete by the end of 2016.
Notts Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping, said: “The dogs really are a valuable asset and do things that the rest of the force can’t.
“I had a lot of discussions with the RSPCA who were concerned about the old kennels – they needed to condemned, they weren’t up to standard, they’re not state of the art. In Nottingham we’re now demonstrating that we are not just put putting people first – but we put our dog team first.”
We spend hours with them
Notts Police dog handler Matt Rogers said: “We spend hours with them – we work on our own, generally, and a lot of the time the only protection and support you’ve got is the police dog.
“We try and treat them as much like pets when they do go home with us. It’s important they have time to rest and recuperate and relax.
“That way it’s clear to them and they understand when they are at work and when they are off-duty.”