TWO police pup recruits from the North East have received a fresh chance in life after they were rescued by Northumbria Police and will ‘em-bark’ on a training course to become fully-fledged patrol dogs. 

Rescue puppies Drax and Drake, who both didn’t have the best start in life, are now enjoying a second chance after today (January 17) starting a new chapter by joining the police. 

Belgium Malinois Drax, who is thought to be around eight weeks old, didn’t have the best start to life when he was found abandoned under a car and taken to a Newcastle vet.

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From there, he was rescued by the police, who saw some potential in the new pup and wanted to help where they could. 

Meanwhile, 12-week-old Drake, who is a Belgium Malinois and German Shepherd cross, also started life in a puppy shelter.

Over the coming weeks, both Drax and Drake will be nurtured by Northumbria Police and put through their paces in 2023 and will hopefully be inducted into the patrol dog squad by the middle of next year. 

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This will include the two puppies getting their own handler, which will see them live full-time with the police officer that is assigned one of these two dogs. 

A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “January has long become a month of new beginnings and fresh starts, and it’s exactly that for our two new police pups. 

“We’re pleased to say our highly trained dog handlers spotted great potential in both dogs, and now the pair have each been assigned their own handler and have gone to live with them, where they’ll be shown love and respect every day.

“We wish the best of luck to both the recruits as they settle in and grow before they start their training next year."

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