Sniffer dog, PD Winston, today celebrates his eighth birthday after seven years in the force.

PD Winston had a long and successful career as a cash, drug and weapons dog where he found over a million pounds worth of drugs and firearms related to serious and organised crime.

He has since retired from the South Yorkshire Police and has re-trained in specialist-detection dog work.

He might be on duty today, but he will be swapping sniffing out firearms, cash and drugs for birthday cake, during a break with his friends at our training school in Sheffield.

The English Springer Spaniel enjoys putting his paws up after work at home with handler PC Schofield and PD Kip.

Winston was asked to return to the force in 2019 due to the low number of dogs and has being helping to protect the communities of South Yorkshire since.

Some of PD Winston’s career highlights include recovering over £700,000 worth of cocaine in one find and sniffing out several hundreds of thousands of pounds of cash, including £150,000 that was hidden in a cellar.

He has also located shell casings and firearms for forensic opportunities in serious shootings and murder investigations, and last year won the first ever Operational Support Unit’s ‘Animal of the Year Award’.

South Yorkshire Police released a statement celebrating Winston’s big day: “Our dogs and horses are part of our policing family, they love their jobs and put themselves in danger to protect their handlers and the public, they are true heroes.”

“We wish PD Winston a very happy day, spoilt with lots of love and fuss!”