AssetID: 56066822
Headline: Prizes for the Paw Patrol: Britain's top police dogs honoured with awards
Caption: **VIDEO AVAILABLE: CONTACT INFO@COVERMG.COM TO RECEIVE** **EMBARGOED: 00:01am Tuesday 29th September 2026** BY MARK WORGAN Britain’s top police dogs have received awards for their bravery in the line of duty. The fouour courageous canines are being honoured by the Thin Blue Paw Foundation. The heroic hounds include a spaniel who helped recover the bodies of six missing people, a German shepherd involved in detaining an armed suspect, and an off-duty police dog who assisted in the arrest of a drink-driver. A retired German shepherd who has required more than £20,000 of treatment following its policing career has also received an award. The dogs and their handlers are being presented with the awards at the Kennel Club in London on Tuesday. Thin Blue Paw Foundation founder Kieran Stanbridge said: “We had so many inspirational and astounding nominations for this year’s awards and it was incredibly difficult to choose our winners. But Jasper, Frankie, Boss and Captain’s stories really showed the very best of dedication, skill, instinct, courage and resilience. “At the Thin Blue Paw Foundation we’re passionate about supporting and rehabilitating retired police dogs as well as protecting and celebrating working police dogs, and that includes highlighting the amazing work they do to fight crime and keep us all safe.” Seven-year-old spaniel Jasper has received the Beyond Duty Award after helping to find the body of a missing 20-year-old woman. Jasper was originally rescued as a stray and taken to Dogs Trust Darlington before becoming Cleveland Police's first victim detection dog. Working alongside PC Liam Sewell, he helped locate the bodies of six missing people during his career. His award particularly recognises his role in the search for Annie Dryden, who had been missing from her Middlesbrough home for more than three months. In April 2024, PC Sewell and Jasper went out on their day off to walk around the perimeter of an area they were due to search for North Yorkshire Police. During the visit, Jasper located Ms Dryden's body. German shepherd Frankie, from Surrey Police, has received the Outstanding Bravery Award after helping officers detain a man armed with a knife following a suspected stabbing. Frankie was six months into his career when he and his handler, PC Eddie Cabrera, were called to an incident in Leatherhead in February 2026. They caught up with a suspect who had fled the scene and were confronted with a stand-off on a petrol station forecourt. The award recognises the pair's teamwork and response during the incident. Frankie, now two, was bred by the police and works as a general purpose police dog. He "loves to work; he just wants to be a police dog," according to PC Cabrera. Retired police dog Boss and his handler Daniel Carter have been given the Crimefighting Duo Award after working together on more than 100 arrests in three years. The four-year-old German shepherd started life as a stray in Norfolk before being transferred to the police. Initially intended to serve as a spare dog, Boss formed a partnership with Mr Carter, who was then a new handler, and joined Kent Police as a general purpose dog. During his career, Boss also qualified as a firearms support dog and received three policing awards. Among his cases was the search for a high-risk vulnerable man who had threatened to harm himself. Boss also helped detain a suspected drink-driver while he was off duty and being walked near his handler's home. He retired earlier this year after developing arthritis and now lives in South Wales with Mr Carter's parents. A fourth German shepherd, Captain, has received the Lifetime Achievement Award following a three-year career with West Midlands Police and subsequent health problems. Captain received a National Police Chiefs' Council award during his service and helped detain two men during a large public disorder incident in which he was kicked in the ribs. He was forced to retire early in 2021 after rupturing his cruciate ligament. Captain was subsequently adopted by his handler, Marcus Cottrell, but has continued to experience health problems associated with his working career. He has required more than £20,000 of treatment, including specialist spinal surgery, which has been funded by the Thin Blue Paw Foundation. The charity said his recovery following surgery and therapy had demonstrated the retired police dog's resilience. The awards are sponsored by Animal Friends Pet Insurance. Its chief executive, Richard Mills, said: “We’re truly honoured to be the headline sponsor for this year’s Thin Blue Paw Awards. “Every day, police dogs across the UK put their paws on the line to protect our communities, and it is a true privilege to help shine a spotlight on their extraordinary bravery and unwavering loyalty. “At Animal Friends, we were created to bring more kindness and compassion into the lives of all animals, no matter their size, species or home. So, it’s no surprise that we share the Thin Blue Paw Foundation’s passion for celebrating and supporting these canine crime-fighters.”
Keywords: police,dogs,feature,photo,video,animals,policing,awards
PersonInImage: Seven-year-old spaniel Jasper has received the Beyond Duty Award after helping to find the body of a missing 20-year-old woman.