In a heartwarming story from the UK, a skinny and weak dog that was once a stray on the streets not only found salvation but also rose to become a qualified police dog in less than a year.
According to a press release from the Slough Borough Council, in October last year (2023), a citizen in Berkshire, England noticed a Belgian Malinois wandering aimlessly on a street in Slough, looking pitifully thin and malnourished.
Upon learning of the situation, the Slough Borough Council initially categorized the dog as a stray and temporarily housed it in a local animal shelter. Staff at the shelter determined that the female dog, approximately two years old, was severely underweight and in poor health.
Further investigation revealed that before wandering the streets, the dog had been tied to a post for hours in heavy rain before managing to break free.
Prior to being abandoned, the dog had several previous owners. As no one came forward to claim her within the legally required week of holding, the staff prepared to find her a new home, setting the stage for a remarkable turn of events.
A local kennel with ties to the council took in the dog, naming her “Mally,” and provided initial rehabilitation treatment.
Once Mally’s health was restored, the kennel recommended her to the UK Ministry of Defence, the Prison Service, and the police to determine her suitability as a working dog. However, due to Mally’s exceptional talents and outstanding performance during evaluation, the police decided to adopt her and train her as a police dog.
In July this year, Mally, now named “Cleo,” exceeded expectations and passed all training assessments with flying colors, officially becoming a police dog for the Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Bedfordshire Police. She is currently working diligently to maintain neighborhood security and combat community crime.
Conservative councillor for equality, public health, and public safety, Ishrat Shah, commended Cleo’s extraordinary journey from a once-dire stray dog to a successful police dog.
“This is a wonderful story that reminds us that a rough beginning doesn’t necessarily dictate a rough ending,” she stated in the press release. “Someone was willing to give Cleo a chance and invest time in training her, which is truly amazing. She has clearly put in the hard work herself and continues to excel in her new role.
“Simultaneously, this story also showcases the unwavering efforts of the Slough Borough Council’s resilience and enforcement team, responsible for handling unclaimed strays or abandoned animals, either finding them permanent homes or paving the way for them to receive specialized training to become valuable service animals.”