Shropshire Star

Shropshire police dog campaign: Ivy meets her new handler

Police dog Ivy has "responded positively" to her new owner, officials have said.

Published

Sergeant David Evans, from Market Drayton, was told by West Mercia Police that he was not allowed to keep four-year-old Ivy when he retires from the police.

She was picked up by West Mercia Police this week to start the assessment and rehandling period, which will take around two weeks.

An update from West Mercia Police, revealed: "We understand many people have been concerned about police dog Ivy being required to spend a period of time within our kennels prior to the rehandling process and have asked us to post an update.

"We are pleased to report Ivy met her new handler on Tuesday and has responded really positively.

"The rehandling process commenced on Wednesday when she spent the day training with her new handler and colleagues. They are all getting on really well.

"Following a successful day of training, Ivy went home with her new handler yesterday and she will continue the rehandling process over the next few weeks when we hope she will be reaccredited and return to full duty."

It comes after more than 130,000 people, including celebrity supporter Angie Best, signed an online petition was set up by Sergeant Evans' daughter Jennie to keep the pair together.

The family, in a statement, said: "Once again, we need to say that we shall be forever grateful for the support shown to us by the public and we very much hope that the public don't give up to get the rules changed for dog handlers in all services.

"It's been a very difficult time and we accept Chief Constable Anthony Bangham made his decision to take Ivy away from us because he has got to follow what the existing rules are about what should happen to police dogs when their handlers face retirement."

"The overwhelming interest in this campaign from the press and the public, is something that the family, who are normally a very private family, have also found extremely difficult to come to terms with.

"That aside, the family are far more concerned that if they continue this fight by taking it to Parliament for a debate and win, that by that time, which could be another year from now, Ivy would again be subjected to the heartbreak of being separated from yet another handler with whom she has bonded.

"The family do not feel that this would be in Ivy's best interests whatsoever.

"The family confirm that they do not wish to pursue West Mercia Police any further, on that basis.

"However, the family feel that a stop must be put to dog handlers across the country being subjected to the same separation and heartache in the future."

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.