Retired police dog survives sudden ‘mysterious’ infection
Vets could not establish how Polly contracted her life-threatening infection.
A retired police dog (RPD) is recovering after becoming seriously ill from a ‘mysterious’ infection on her leg.
Eleven-year-old Polly was rushed to an emergency veterinary practice by her owner and former police partner, PC Claire Harrison, after a small cut caused Polly’s leg to swell to three times its normal size.
Polly, a German shepherd x Belgian malinois, had already visited her vets for treatment on her wound and had begun her treatment plan. However, in the space of 24 hours, her condition rapidly deteriorated.
The emergency veterinary team warned PC Harrison that the next 48 hours would be critical for Polly. They couldn’t tell how she had contracted this infection, and therefore couldn’t decide on the best treatment options.
Polly was kept at the practice for close monitoring and given a course of antibiotics. After a reaction to this first course, she was moved to a different medication.
Eventually Polly began to recover from the life-threatening illness, and has since been discharged back home.
Alongside her fears for Polly’s health, PC Harrison had additional concerns at the cost of her treatment.
PC Harrison said: “Polly has been my best friend for almost 10 years; working alongside me policing the front line for a large part of this, and keeping me – and the public – safe; always making sure I returned home to my family.
“I owe her so much, including the retirement she so rightly deserves, so when the unthinkable happened and I knew the costs would go into thousands of pounds my heart sank because, without insurance, I didn’t know how I’d pay the bill.”
Polly served as a police dog with Sussex and Surrey Police for six years, four of which she spent alongside PC Harrison. When she retired in 2022, she moved in with PC Harrison and her family.
Once retired, police dogs do not receive financial support from the government. This means that the cost of their vet bills frequently falls on their ex-handler or new owner.
The Thin Blue Paw Foundation was founded in 2020 to support the costs of police dogs’ treatments, surgeries and therapies. It has launched a petition to the Government to fund pensions for retired police dogs.
PC Harrison said: “My gratitude goes to the vets who gave Polly such fantastic care, to the Thin Blue Paw, who made it possible for her to fight, and to everyone who supports the charity so they can do such important work.”
Image © The Thin Blue Paw Foundation
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
