Police dog stars in stamp series

2008 is the Year of the Assistance Dog

A two-year-old German Shepherd from the Humber region has become the star of a special series of Royal Mail stamps.

Two-year-old Tyke, from Humberside Police dogs unit, is one of six dogs featured in the Working Dogs series.

The stamps celebrate 100 years since the police and blind people began using working dogs.

The German Shepherd, which has been with the Humber force for 10 months, was chosen because the country's first police dogs worked in Hull Docks.

'Secret army'

But it was to be another 30 years before police dogs were used more widely across the country.

Sgt Kevin Baxter, from Humberside Police, said: “The work that the police dogs do is vital in reducing crime, catching criminals and protecting people.

"It is wonderful to see that they are getting some recognition for the hard work and training that they go through to become fully trained.”

This is the first time a set of special stamps has been devoted entirely to highly-trained animals.

Julietta Edgar, head of special stamps at Royal Mail, said: "It is easy to forget that there is a ‘secret army' of thousands of hard-working dogs who make a real difference to many lives.

"I hope that this issue will help raise the profile of their important work as customers see the dogs on millions of letters and parcels every day."