Animals

Retired Police Dog Helps Teach First Aid

Good News Post

Sep 25, 2025 — 2 min read

RPD Izzy - Image supplied Thin Blue Paw

By Charities Correspondent

A retired police dog who spent five years as an explosive detection dog for Norfolk and Suffolk Police has found a second career during retirement – helping her new owner teach canine first aid.

Seven-year-old RPD Izzy worked at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk as well as other prominent events, such as the Commonwealth Games, before retiring in 2024.

PD Izzy working at the Commonwealth Games — RPD Izzy at the Commonwealth Games - Image supplied Thin Blue Paw

She was adopted by Paul Watts, from Lowestoft in Suffolk, to live with his family and his two other spaniels.

Now, RPD Izzy helps Paul with his work, providing healthcare training including dog first aid.

She helps with demonstrations and is a real-life model for participants to practice on.

RPD Izzy bandaged - helping owners learn canine first aid — RPD Izzy helping with demonstrations - Image supplied Thin Blue Paw

Paul said: “It feels like Izzy has gone full-circle in her life; she was trained to save lives as an explosive search dog and now she’s got another chance to save lives by helping me train dog owners in vital canine first aid.

“She is such a friendly, laid-back dog who adores any sort of attention, so she loves laying there and getting petted while being bandaged up!”

RPD Izzy is supported by our Foundation, and we contributed towards the cost of surgery to remove a broken tooth and treat an abscess.

Paul added: “I now have a very happy and loving dog who is healthy and helps other people. Everyone loves her and it’s so wonderful to see her living a new life.”

Our Chairman Kieran Stanbridge said: “It’s an honour to support dogs like Izzy. She spent many years serving her country as a police dog and it’s such an inspiration to see that she’s now helping dogs and their owners too.”

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