Brave dog who was shot and stabbed now works with cop who saved him

By Douglas Whitbread via SWNS

A brave dog who was blasted with a rifle and stabbed with a kitchen knife has landed a new job with the police – after he was saved by a serving officer.

Buddy, 10, was used to “rile” fighting pit bulls before he was rescued by Chief Inspector Jayne Forrest, of South Yorkshire Police, during a raid in Doncaster, South Yorks.

The forlorn pooch was in a bad condition after his cruel owners cut his tail off, leaving him completely infested with fleas, ticks and worms.

His body was also peppered was air rifle pellets, and inspectors from the RSPCA didn’t believe that they could save the ill-treated pup.

But CI Forrest took pity on Buddy and did all she could to help nurse him back to full strength.

Seven years later, the plucky pup has left his criminal past behind for a new deployment as a South Yorkshire Police well-being dog - helping officers with stress and trauma.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Buddy had been used to rile pit bulls before they were made to fight.

“When officers found him, Buddy had fleas, ticks, worms, and an infected tail after his owners had cut it off with a kitchen knife.

“He’d also been shot with an air rifle so many times, the RSPCA didn’t think they could save him. But Jayne decided she could."

The spokesperson added that Buddy was still a bit “nervous” around other dogs but he had brought a “calming presence” to the team.

They said: “Our wellbeing dogs are deployed to any teams who have been exposed to danger, stress or trauma in the hope they’ll provide some light relief and a much-needed distraction.

“Buddy is still understandably a little nervous around the rest of the Wellbeing Dog team, but he’s a lovely calming presence.

“The team is just one aspect of the wellbeing support offered to police officers, but they are certainly the cutest.”