Police Dog Welfare Visitor

A police dog welfare visitor is a volunteer who helps the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner make sure that police dogs in Cheshire are healthy, well-treated and looked after properly. These dogs play an important role in policing, so this volunteer role helps make sure their care and training are ethical and humane.

What the role involves

As a police dog welfare visitor, you would:

• Visit kennels and training facilities where police dogs are kept or trained
• Check the dogs’ welfare based on standards like the RSPCA’s “Five Freedoms”. Which include things like access to water and food, freedom from pain, proper bedding, space to behave normally and freedom from fear or distress.
• Look at training and transport conditions. This includes how dogs are moved in vehicles.
• Write reports on what you observe so the PCC can see if care and conditions ae good.

These visits are independent and unannounced, meaning you go in without notice so your observations reflect everyday conditions.

Who can be a volunteer?

People who are over 18, who live in Cheshire are welcome to apply. You don’t need policing experience, just an interest in helping make sure police services are effective and accountable.

Why this matters

This scheme was created to build public confidence in how police dogs are cared for, especially after historical concerns about training methods across the policing landscape.

In 1997, police dog ‘Acer’ died whilst training in Essex. The officers involved were prosecuted, and it resulted in the loss of public confidence.

Additional information

Would you like to get involved?