DYFED-POWYS Police

Very Good Police Dog Locates Missing Mom And Baby During His First Shift

A rookie police dog from the UK has officially earned the title of Very Good Boy after successfully tracking down a missing mother and 1-year-old baby during his first shift on the force.

According to a press release from the Dyfed-Powys Police Department, the 2-year-old German Shepherd named Max wasted no time proving himself an asset to the K-9 unit and managed to sniff out the mother and child two days after they were first reported missing.

The unidentified woman and her 1-year-old baby appear to have been exploring a remote location in Powys when they lost contact with loved ones.

(not actual photo) Unsplash | Holly Mandarich

“The woman had not been seen or spoken to for two days, which was out of character, and her phone wasn’t working, so naturally concern for her safety was high," Inspector Jonathan Rees-Jones said in the release.

“Response officers, neighborhood policing teams and specialist search officers were dispatched to her home, and inquiries were carried out to try and trace her steps."

Newly-licensed Max and his handler, Police Constable Peter Lloyd, were completing their first shift together on August 1 when they were recruited to the search.

Facebook | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Police

After police located the missing mom's car on a mountain road, they narrowed their location search to a remote area in Powys which included a small reservoir and woodland.

“This is where PD Max’s tracking skills really came into play," Rees-Jones said. "Despite only recently becoming licensed, and on his first operational shift, he immediately commenced an open area search.”

After an hour and a half of extensive searching, Max was able to locate the missing pair.

Unsplash | Jeff Sheldon

Guided by his trusty partner, Lloyd spotted the mother waving for help near a steep ravine on the mountainside, where she and her child were then helped down and assessed by a Mountain Rescue doctor and the ambulance service.

Police say both mother and baby were found safe, "but cold, and appeared to have been in the area for a significant amount of time."

In the aftermath of the incredible rescue, Max has been hailed a hero and has been praised for his unbelievably successful first day on the job.

DYFED-POWYS Police

“I was really pleased that during our first operational deployment as a dog team, myself and Max were able to safely locate the missing mother and baby," Lloyd said. "Max remained focused throughout the long search and he proved invaluable when he reacted to the call for help which resulted in us locating them.”

As a general purpose dog, Max will primarily be used for tracking and locating people, as well as tracing discarded property and tracking and detaining suspects.

h/t: DFYED-POWYS Police

Filed Under: