Paws up! Cuteness alert as police dog calendars go on sale

That's me! Police dog Arlo gives his seal of approval as Inspector Todd Southall presents Constable Jane Dunn her award for the top photo in the 2020 Police Dog Trust Calendar competition.

When you think of police dogs, many believe they're ferocious creatures ready to attack at any moment.

But if this year's police dog calendar is anything to go by, their bark is louder than their bite.

Arlo, a six-year-old German Shepherd, works as a patrol dog with handler Constable Sam Bennett, and features as one of the calendar poster dogs, and as the main image for July.

Senior Constable Jane Dunn and her trusted work colleague Arlo won forensic photographer top photo award in the 2020 Police Dog Trust Calendar competition.

Constable Dunn, who is based in Wellington, was presented with her award yesterday by Inspector Todd Southall, National Coordinator of Police Dogs and chair of the Police Dog Trust.

This is the second time she has won the top accolade in the four years of the Police Dog Trust calendar initiative, and Arlo was on hand to lend his appreciation too.

"Jane's a very skilled forensic photographer working at crime scenes and with victims," Inspector Southall said.

"She's also known to many dog section and social media followers for her fantastic and sometimes quirky photos of police dogs and pups, many of which are taken in her own off-duty time.

"There's about 50 forensic photographers nationally and they all do an incredible and painstaking job in often the most distressing and complex crime scenes.

"Their expertise and creative flair is sometimes not so well known and the Police Dog Trust appreciates the support all the photographers give to our dog section and to the calendar project."

That's me! Police dog Arlo gives his seal of approval as Inspector Todd Southall presents Constable Jane Dunn her award for the top photo in the 2020 Police Dog Trust Calendar competition.

Judging the more than 130 images received for the calendar completion was tough, and the standard was very high.

The Police Dog Charitable Trust was established in 2005 with funds from the estate of the late Shirley Ellwood.

Funds raised from calendar sales are used to buy 'added extras' such as therapy balls and play equipment for police pups and dogs, and furthering research and study opportunities.

The calendars can be purchased here.

The calendars cost $20.