A charity helped save the life of a heroic retired police dog when she fell seriously ill and needer emergency life-saving surgery.
Belgian Malinois RPD Fiji, 12, joined Surrey Police as a puppy and spent six years working with the Surrey and Sussex Joint Dog Unit as a general purpose police dog.
She was rushed into emergency surgery on Monday afternoon (6 January) after her former handler and now owner, Claire Bird, noticed she wasn’t well.
Claire said: “I was chilling on the sofa with Fiji after working a night shift and I’d given the dogs a bit of leftover roast lamb and Fiji was being sick in the garden. I went to check on her and I noticed her stomach was getting bigger and rushed her to the vet. I was panic-stricken and rushed down in my pyjamas and a coat!”
Vets x-rayed her and rushed her straight into surgery while Claire waited nervously for news.
“Vets said if I didn’t hear from them then it would be good news so when they rang me half an hour into the surgery to say she’d need her spleen removed too I was terrified, but thankfully she pulled through,” Claire added.
Fiji stayed overnight at the vets before returning to her home, in West Sussex, on Tuesday.
Claire added: “She’s very sleepy but I’m just so relieved to have her home, and I’m so grateful to the Thin Blue Paw Foundation for helping with the costs of this surgery.”
Fiji’s ‘heroic’ career
Fiji joined the police at just four-months-old. She’d been rescued when her owner had tragically committed suicide and was paired with Claire, who’d recently returned from maternity leave.
She was a committed police dog and even saved lives during her career.
Claire said: “An emergency call came in for a high-risk missing person and there were concerns he may have been suicidal. Within just a few hours, thanks to Fiji’s amazing nose and her training, we located him. He was unconscious but alive; and Fiji had saved his life. She’s a true hero.”
Fiji received a commendation for her work that night. But, sadly, her career ended early when she pulled the ligaments in her leg jumping for a toy. She retired to live with Claire and her family.
Claire – who also has two working dogs and one other retired dog – registered Fiji with the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, a charity founded in 2020 to provide financial support to retired police dogs to ensure they can access the best veterinary care.
Claire and Fiji called on the charity for support for the monthly £300 injection to help manage her itchy skin, and when she fell seriously ill with pyometra, a bacterial infection of the uterus, in October 2023.
Claire turned to the charity again this week when Fiji needed the expensive emergency surgery.
Thin Blue Paw chairman Kieran Stanbridge said: “Fiji has needed almost £10,000 in support over the years, for emergency surgery and for regular medication to help with an ongoing condition and ensure she has the best quality of life in her retirement.
“This is why we founded the charity; to be there for these heroic dogs in their hours of need. I’m proud that we’ve been able to be there and play a part in saving Fiji’s life so she can continue to enjoy her retirement with her loving family.”
Claire added: “I’ve kept all of my working dogs when they retire and, as any dog owner knows, taking care of them is expensive. But I couldn’t turn my back on them after everything they’ve given.
“I’m so incredibly thankful to the Thin Blue Paw Foundation – and everyone who donates to them – for helping to save Fiji’s life, and for helping me make her happy during her retirement.
“I feel so lucky that we were paired together, especially as she was rescued and went on to become such a brilliant police dog. She really does deserve a great retirement after all she’s been through and everything she’s done.”
