A POLICE dog who was rescued after being discovered underweight, ridden with fleas, and in a poor medical condition has completed his first year of service.

Orla, a springer spaniel border collie cross, was donated to Essex Police’s dog unit after being treated by kennels in Rayleigh.

She was given to the dog unit based in Sandon, Chelmsford, when staff at the kennels suspected she had potential to be a great specialist search dog.

The four-year-old dog was nursed back to health before being paired with experienced handler PC Paul Arthey in December 2014.

Six months later, Orla became a fully-fledged police dog licensed to search and detect drugs including heroin, cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA and herbal and resin cannabis.

The clever canine can also sniff out cash, weapons, and their component parts and ammunition, both fired and unfired.

In her first year as an operational police dog, Orla has completed 72 searches of vehicles, buildings and open spaces and discovered more than £24,000 in cash which was later seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

She’s also detected illegally held ammunition on Canvey, ammunition rounds fired during a shooting incident in Chigwell, and detected class A drugs leading to the arrest and conviction of offenders.

Mr Arthey, said: “Orla is a natural police dog. She’s had a really productive first year and I’m very proud of her. It has taken a lot of patience and affection but she has come such a long way.

“When I watch Orla in action now, it’s almost impossible to remember her as the underweight and flea ridden dog I first met.

“Her coat was so matted it had to be shaved off completely and she was in such poor medical condition.

“Orla is now well settled into her new life.

“She’s lives happily at home with my German Shepherd Niko and is always ready to go to work.

“I’m really looking forward to finding out what other successes the next year may bring for her. Well done Orla.”