Kent News - Polly the champion sniffer dog retires

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Saturday, March 13 2010, 16:08

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Polly the champion sniffer dog retires

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Polly with her handler Jackie

Britain's most successful sniffer dog has hung up her collar after tracking down more than £7 million in drugs and cash in the past five years.

Polly, a six-year-old English springer spaniel, officially retired from service for HM Revenue and Customs in Dover after sniffing out more than £1m-a-year for five years on the trot.

During her five year career working for the Revenue and Customs Frontiers team - which patrols the UK’s ports and borders - Polly sniffed out more than £3m in cash, 540kgs of cannabis, 68kgs of ecstasy and 500 grams of amphetamine with a street value of more than £4m.

And the reason for her success, according to Steve Hazell, a spokesman for HM Revenue and Customs is because of her huge nose.

He said: "The special thing about Polly which separates her from the other sniffer dogs is her big nose.

"She was trained to sniff out cash and drugs and is no doubt the top dog when it comes to sniffing out criminal activity."

Polly became Britain's most valued sniffer dog after being rescued from an animal shelter in 2001 when she was just a puppy.

Polly was awarded a Golden Bone for her efforts at a presentation ceremony in Dover in which she searched a car for drugs for the final time before hanging up her collar.

POSTED: 19/01/2007 14:09:37

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