Different job

When I read about Bruce's plight, I came up with the idea of trying to arrange for him to be relocated into a different field of dog work, where his possible lapses in remembering his training as a police dog wouldn't be a problem.

I rang Sussex Police and told them of the possible solution to their problem.

I told the person who wrote down my comments I would let the police know the result as soon as I knew but I was certain we could help solve the dilemma.

Following various conversations, my thoughts were confirmed - Bruce could be retasked and retrained into a different arena.

Some organisations use dogs of a highly aggressive nature, both in the UK and overseas. Although he had strayed on occasion, as a trained police dog he had good potential to fulfil his full working life doing other things.

By the time I rang the police back, Bruce had been put to sleep.

I don't think our offer was given any consideration. I understand Bruce couldn't be rehomed into the public domain.

However, our arrangements would have placed him out of the public sector and I'm sure all responsibility and accountability to the police would have been signed over.

Bruce shouldn't have remained a police dog due to his actions - no argument there. In that role, he should only really carry out limb takedowns, not faces.

However, some dogs fulfill roles where they are trained to bite any part of the body and be overtly aggressive. Bruce had great relocation potential.

He did not need to be put down. I wonder if anybody looked at our offer or, as seems more likely, someone's mind was made up to murder this animal rather than allowing him to move on to a job more suited to his nature.

From all at Rapid UK, especially the dog section, our heartfelt sympathies go out to PC Tattum and his family. We are sorry for your pointless and unnecessary loss.

-Geoff Parkinson, training officer for Rapid UK, geoff.parkinson@btinternet.com