FUR ALL OUR DOG HEROES
Sculpture modelled on PD Ziggy who helped sniff out criminals
A national memorial statue to honour the country’s canine crusaders has been unveiled by police.
The bronze artwork in Pol lok Country Park in Glasgow recognises the work done by the force’s dogs to help catch criminals, find missing people and sniff out drugs, explosives and firearms.
Modelled on one of Police Scotland’s best dogs, the £ 35,000 statue was crafted by sculptor John Doubleday.
Dog handler PC Carrie-Ann McNab, who spent two-anda-half years campaigning for the statue and fundraising, is thrilled by the result.
Carrie said: “It really is a dream come true to see the statue finally unveiled and standing there in all its glory. It’s just beautiful. I can’t thank everyone enough for donating and raising money for such a great cause.
“Every day in Scotland a police dog helps their local community finding missing people, criminals, recovering property or sniffing out drugs, cash, firearms or explosives.
“Their acts of heroism are countless, as is the number of lives they have helped their human partners save, so it is brilliant to have somewhere handlers and the public can come to remember them.
“There is one other similar memorial in
Essex but that was a long way for Scottish handlers to go to pay tribute to dogs they had lost, so having a statue here will make all the difference not only for police officers but as a way of drawing attention to the work these dogs do.”
The statue, situated near Police Scotland’s Dog Unit and Training Centre, is of Ziggy, who died two years ago.
Carrie, who works with German shepherd Bodie and drug-sniffing cocker spaniel Billy, said: “The statue depicts PD Ziggy, a Belgian Malinois, who sadly passed away before the statue was finished.
“He epitomised what a police dog should be – physically imposing, confident, courageous and with a pa s s ion to work. There is not a single dog on the force that has not carried out countless acts of bravery.
“We owe so much to these fearless four- legged heroes and I’m delighted we now have a lasting tribute to them in Scotland.”
It was unveiled on Friday by retired Dog Sergeant Cammy Shanks during a ceremony at tended by Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison and Police Scotland Chaplain Reverend Nei l Galbraith.
It was a par t icularly poignant moment for Cammy, 62, who has terminal cancer and feared he would not live to see the memorial unveiling.
Cammy, who was a dog handler for 20 years, said: “It’s an honour and privilege to still be here to unveil such a special tribute.
“Scotland’s police dogs deserve to have their own memorial. They are a key part of the force and their bravery deserves to be recognised.”
The first police dog was used in 1859 by officers in Luton, who employedpy a bloodhound to help track down a murderer. Police do g s d id n’ t appear on the streets of Britain until well after World War II and today 160 dogs are ser v ing in n Scotland.
The sculpture ure e was a labour of love e for Doubleday, who o is known for his s statues of Nelson son Mandela and his
Beatles tribute in Liverpool.