Rescue Pup Dexter Turns Crime Fighter for Wiltshire Police
Meet Dexter, the 18-month-old Labrador who went from charity rescue to the front lines of crime-fighting. Dropped off at Dogs Trust in January, Dexter’s natural working instincts quickly stood out. Now he’s teamed up with PC Vicki Pegrum, sniffing out illegal drugs across Wiltshire.
Training Day Hell for Dexter at Abandoned NHS Building
This Wednesday, Dexter faced a tough training challenge at a deserted NHS site off Pans Lane, Devizes. Under the watchful eyes of officers, he searched every corner and crack, hunting down drugs hidden by police dog trainer Cindy Hargreave. The duo’s tight bond was plain to see, with Dexter rewarding PC Pegrum with plenty of loving face licks and cuddles.
Trainer Hails Dexter’s ‘Bigger Than Life’ Drive
“Dexter throws himself into everything with total commitment and is always focused,” said Cindy Hargreave. “He’s resilient, quick to bounce back, and thrives on searching. I’m thrilled with how well he’s done on his training – he definitely needed a job to match his drive.”
Cindy also revealed she nurtured Dexter during his early months, prepping him for police work with exposure to different environments and training in scent detection and vehicle searches.
Dogs Trust and Wiltshire Police: Rescue Dogs on the Frontline
Wiltshire Police joined the national Animal Welfare Visitors Scheme in early 2024 and have since trained three Dogs Trust rescues like Dexter. The scheme, running since 2002, guarantees top welfare standards for police dogs in training and transport.
Louise Crawford, Animal Welfare Scheme Coordinator at Dogs Trust, said: “Dexter is the third dog adopted by Wiltshire Police since joining the scheme. His strong work drive made him perfect for a working home. Rescue dogs like Dexter can do amazing things, and we wish him a long, happy career.”
Discover more about Dogs Trust’s work with service dogs here.
