Emaciated, Abandoned Dog Finds New Purpose As Police Dog After Being Rescued From Road Sign

An emaciated dog that was discovered wandering the streets has undergone an incredible transformation into a police dog within a year.

Mally, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois, was found severely underweight and in poor health in October of last year. She was taken to a shelter in England where her potential was noticed, leading to her becoming a service dog.

Her journey recently reached its pinnacle as she graduated as the newest recruit for the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire police force.

Mally was first found by a concerned individual in Slough, Berkshire, last autumn. She was in a severely emaciated state, prompting the local authorities to take her in as a stray.

Further investigations revealed that Mally had been tied up to a road sign for several hours in heavy rain. Miraculously, she managed to free herself and started wandering the streets aimlessly.

Prior to being abandoned, Mally had gone through several owners in her short life. As no one came forward to claim her during the statutory one-week holding period, she was made available for rehoming.

Fortunately, one of the council’s kenneling providers took Mally in and began the initial rehabilitation process. It was during this time that she was named.

In a fortunate turn of events, the Ministry of Defense, His Majesty’s Prison Service, and the police considered the possibility of rehoming Mally as a service dog. Upon observing her exceptional talent and impressive performance during assessments, the police seized the opportunity and took her on to see if she would excel as a police dog.

After successfully passing all her tests, Mally officially graduated in July as a fully-fledged police dog for Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Police. She now plays a crucial role in making the streets safer and combating crime in her community.

Ishrat Shah, a Tory councilor and lead member for equalities, public health, and public protection, commended Mally’s remarkable journey from the streets to achieving her stripes.

“This heartwarming story demonstrates that a rough start doesn’t necessarily determine the outcome,” Shah stated. “Mally’s prospects for rehoming seemed bleak, but someone took a chance on her and invested time in her training, which is truly exceptional. Mally’s dedication and hard work have paid off, and she is now making a remarkable impact in her new role.”

This story also highlights the efforts of the council’s resilience and enforcement team, whose responsibilities include handling unclaimed stray or abandoned dogs and other animals. Their commitment to finding these animals forever homes or channeling their potential as successful working animals is truly commendable.