A charitable Samaritan found a litter of four abandoned cocker spaniel puppies rotting in an alley in Redhill, Surrey, writes ilovemydogsomuch. The litter had blotchy skin and scabbed eyes and were ill with serious infections. They were admitted by staff at Millbrook Animal Centre in Chobham.
After several months of intensive treatment the puppies recovered well. Their name is Mike, El, Lucas and Dustin. Soon after, the perfect happy ending came for Mike, El and Lucas, who were adopted by wonderful families. But poor Dustin was still waiting for his precious moment in the sun. Unlike his gentler brothers, Dustin wasn’t cut out for a quiet, sheltered family life. He had an explorer’s soul, and his overstated nature was simply too much for potential foster parents. He loved puzzles and games, but no one was willing to satisfy his constant need for stimulation.
After raising the sickly Dustin into a handsome boy, staff were disappointed to discover that the adoptive parents didn’t want him. When the adventurous dog got bored at the shelter, staff hid his tennis balls in unfamiliar places to keep him occupied. This exercise proved to be a turning point for Dustin. When staff saw Dustin’s sniffing and searching skills, they contacted the local police to introduce Dustin as a potential recruit. Within days everything went smoothly and Dustin was accepted as a new member of the Surrey and Sussex Dog Unit.
Dustin works with Officer Steph Barrett, tracking down drugs, money and guns on behalf of the police. Dustin has come a long way in the first 20 months of his life. He was left on the streets, had to overcome rejection and found his true calling. We are very proud of him and wish him all the best!