Meet Baloo, a charismatic Belgian Malinois whose promising police career was cut short when she was hit by a suspect's car, leaving her for dead at a crime scene in 2018.
Baloo came out of emergency surgery full of metal bolts and without her front right leg. As an amputee, she was forced into medical retirement. Baloo was adopted by retired police dog handler, Mandy Chapman, who sensed the potential for a new career direction: trauma support.
It's been a hugely successful partnership, culminating in Baloo winning Hero Dog of the Year at Crufts 2025.
The pair support police officers, staff and their families through the wellbeing charity Oscar Kilo's dog charity, the "OK9" organisation. Their work goes beyond the police force, and includes visiting nursing homes and schools in support of the wider community.
Mandy Chapman talks to Dogs with Jobs presenter, Kate Fairweather from the Dogs Making a Difference Awards organised by the charity, Service Dogs UK - where Baloo took yet another award for his support work.
Fellow award nominees included Mika, the well being and trauma support dog in the Metropolitan Police, who came on the show back in 2023, and Phil, the dual qualified medical alert and autism assistance dog, who came away with an award, too.
Other police dog career stories:
- Champ, the engagement dog working in child protection in the Victoria police
- The UK's National Police Dog Trials 2025
- P.D. Viper the firearms support dog
- P.D. Chase and the career arc of a general purpose police dog
- P.D. Meika, who searches for London criminals' cash, drugs and firearms
- P.D. Ted, the explosives detection dog with the West Midlands Police
- P.D. Jax the victim recovery dog with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary
Do you work your dog?
Or perhaps you know someone else who might like to come on the show? I love all and any working dogs - and am always looking for dogs to come on the show.
Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk.
Find more dogs with interesting jobs.
© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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