Retired Police Dog Coty from Kent Police is in need of urgent spinal surgery to allow her to enjoy the rest of her retirement. Without it, Coty's condition will worsen and she will lose the use of her back legs, meaning a terrible ending.
Retired Police Dog Coty - a beautiful soul and an extraordinary police dog, who has protected her communities - needs urgent and major spinal surgery.
The total costs of the surgery and accompanying tests and MRI scans will be in excess of £14,000 and we hope you will help us to give Coty her life back.
This is her story:
Coty joined Kent Police at 10 weeks old, and was part of the puppy programme.
She became licensed as an operational police dog in November 2020 and quickly stood out for her exceptional ability to learn and adapt, and in 2021, just a year into her service, she was selected to travel to Cornwall for the prestigious G7 Summit.
That same year, she competed in her first County Trials, where she swept the competition, taking first place, winning the Obedience Trophy, and securing the Novice Cup.
This early success launched her into Regional Trials, where she continued to impress by winning both the obedience and tracking trophies, earning her a coveted spot at the National Police Dog Trials.
At the Nationals in 2022, held at Cirencester Park and hosted by Lady Bathurst, the NFRSA's founder and Chair, Coty’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary. She claimed the Search Cup and achieved an impressive 10th place overall - a remarkable achievement for such a young dog. Her skills in crowd control made such an impression that many couldn’t tell who was more intimidating, Coty or her handler!
Driven by a deep love for learning, especially in tracking and property searches, Coty quickly became an exceptional operational police dog.
One standout deployment involved a cannabis cultivation site where four suspects fled. Coty apprehended all four, executing a bite, stand-off, and recall flawlessly.
Her talents weren’t limited to land. Coty’s favourite case involved tracking a suspect who had fled across open fields following a serious road traffic collision. The trail led to a riverbank, and Coty, full of determination, pulled her handler down the slope and jumped into the water. Barking with excitement, she pushed through reeds and located the suspect hiding in the water.
Coty’s nose proved invaluable in solving serious crimes. In one case, she discovered a pair of stud earrings in a woodland following a violent assault, preserving vital evidence and helping locate the crime scene. The earrings even provided DNA that linked the suspect to the attack.
Her tenacity was unmatched. She tracked a burglary suspect across fields after a major theft of medical equipment from several hospitals. When she finally found him, he wisely surrendered.
In another case, she located a high-risk domestic abuse suspect who had fled after a violent attack. Coty leapt over a back fence and tracked the offender hiding in crop fields.
Coty also played a key role in a high-profile case involving two offenders who struck a police officer with a vehicle before fleeing and setting the car on fire. Coty picked up a long track and led officers to the suspects location, enabling swift identification and later resulting in multiple arrests.
These are just a few examples from Coty's outstanding career. As her handler's first partner, she set the standard incredibly high.
Sadly, her service was cut short in July 2024 when she began losing control of her back legs. Tests revealed arthritis, a spinal pinch, and two large cysts on her spinal cord. Despite undergoing major surgery to remove the cysts, she was unable to return to duty.
Though Coty’s operational career ended earlier than expected, Lisa, her devoted handler was heartbroken when her retirement didn’t go as she had hoped.
After undergoing major surgery to remove two large cysts on her spinal cord, it was believed Coty had been given a new lease on life. For a short time, it seemed she had, her spirit was strong, and everyone was hopeful she would enjoy the retirement she so richly deserved.
But sadly, just after Christmas, Coty collapsed, and her back legs began to fail her again.
What followed were months of gruelling tests, multiple medical consultations, physiotherapy, and a relentless search for answers, including two visits to the Royal Veterinary College in London to see the European Specialist.
Despite everyone's best efforts, the specialists have told Lisa the only remaining hope for Coty to enjoy a comfortable and happy retirement is to undergo a complex procedure to stabilise her spine in two separate areas.
It’s a daunting road, but with her age and unwavering determination, we believe this is her final opportunity to reclaim some normality and to feel the sand beneath her paws, swim freely, and run alongside the pack she loves so dearly.
Coty gave everything in her years of service. Now, we’re doing everything we can to give her the joyful, peaceful retirement she’s earned.
Please donate - any amount will make a difference - and let's get dear RPD Coty back on her feet again, so she can have the best chance to enjoy the rest of her life pain-free and active.
Thank you so much for your support - and for helping us to 'Protect Our Protectors'.
**Please follow us on social media to get updates on Coty's condition:
X - @The_NFRSA
Instagram - @nfrsa_official
Facebook - The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals
Or visit our website: National Foundation for Retired Service Animals https://www.nfrsa.org.uk/
**Any funds raised over the amount required for the operation will be used to fund Coty's future treatments and physio, and to help other retired service animals in need of our assistance.
UPDATE Sunday 15th June
We have a message from Lisa and RPD Coty this morning - she sent us this gorgeous photo.
‘‘𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.’
The date of her massive procedure has been confirmed as the 1st July and we are all rooting for this sweet girl.
We hope to reach the target soon and thank you all for choosing Gift Aid. Those extra funds will cover all Coty’s physio and therapy sessions which she will need during her long recovery.
You can still donate here - we can do this!
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