MEET

RPD Atos

Breed of dogSpringer Spaniel

Location of servitudeMinistry of Defence Police

Type of serviceSearch & Detection

ConditionCruciate ligament

Grant amount received£6,000

  • Retired police dog Atos recovering from surgery
  • Police dog Atos with Claire
  • Retired police dog Atos in a field

MEET RETIRED POLICE DOG ATOS

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What are some of the highlights of Atos’s career?

“Atos was a fantastic search dog and worked on many important jobs with me, including searches for members of the Royal Family in Portsmouth Dockyard and at Horseguards in London.”

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What was Atos like as a police dog?

“Atos was so full of drive and had such a passion for his work; he never failed me and always passed his licensing with ease, he loved to work and loved to please me and, of course, loved to get that tennis ball at the end of a job! He was very enthusiastic but sometimes that did cause problems! He had no fear and wouldn’t hesitate which ended up in a few trips to the vets!”

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What does retirement look like for Atos?

“Atos loves water and enjoys jumping in big puddles and barking with excitement if the outside hose gets switched on! He loves belly runs and cuddles on the sofa, and will do anything for a biscuit. He has a basket full of toys and he knocks it over whenever he wants to play!”

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Why did Atos retire?

In 2019, Atos was diagnosed with arthritis and Claire raised some concerns about his travel anxiety. The force decided that Atos would retire, at the age of six, and Claire adopted him as her pet.

HOW WE HELPED RETIRED POLICE DOG ATOS IN RETIREMENT

RPD Atos was just one when he joined the Ministry of Defence’s explosive search team and was paired with PC Claire Addems. They spent five years working at AWE Burghfield in Berkshire until Atos was forced to retire early due to chronic arthritis and a fear of travelling in the car.

The duo were enjoying a quieter life in Devon when, on a walk in the summer of 2020, Atos ruptured his cruciate ligament and faced a £3,000 bill for surgery to repair it. We paid the bill and Atos became the first dog we supported just one month after we launched.

The surgery was successful and Atos returned to normal, retired life. The surgery was successful and Atos returned to normal, retired life.

But, just six months later, he ruptured the cruciate ligament in his other rear leg and needed a second operation. Again, we stepped in to pay the bill.

He also needs ongoing pain-relief for his arthritis which we contribute to.

It’s been a long journey for Atos to recover and his dedicated owners would sleep on the kitchen floor to keep him company during his crate rest and take him to regular physio sessions to help his rehabilitation. But he’s now back to his bouncy, happy self.

Police dog Atos with Claire

“I cannot express how grateful I am to the Thin Blue Paw Foundation for their generosity and the financial pressure it has taken off me and my family.”

Claire, Atos’s former handler and owner

BENEFICIARIES OF OUR GRANTS

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