Author(s): Matt McCredie

Dogs

Policeman Matt McCredie, with the dog handling unit of the NSW Police Force, was burnt out. His long-term dog partner, Merlin, had given him the best years of his life, and had become part of his family. Together they had grown up and learnt the ropes. But a disastrous spinal injury meant that Merlin had to be put down, and Matt had to do it. Matt was gutted, and left the force for a long break, perhaps for ever. After a few months spent grieving, he decided to give it another try. He needed a new, young dog to train to get himself back in the game. Enter Boris, eight years old but with the energy of a six-month old puppy. Incredibly obedient, with a twinkle in his eye and a big personality, Boris and Matt hit it off. When the dog training coordinator could see that Boris was well on the way to success, Matt was recalled to re-team with a young dog. It was what he had wanted and he said a special goodbye to Boris. Zac, a 12-month German Shepherd, was next but he didn't make the grade. Then there was Elle, a young female with a taste for track and search. But it still wasn't right. Enter Rex, a massive black and tan German Shepherd, who was giving his handler a lot of trouble. He was going to be difficult, his owners had given him to the police because they couldn't handle him. But Matt persisted, despite some terrible initial results, and soon 'call sign Dog 26 was back on the road'. Written in a fast-paced and informative style, Matt takes the reader through all the action-packed excitement, drama and intense activity that dog handlers live every day catching crooks on the city streets. Together they track and catch criminals ranging from burglaries, armed robberies, search buildings, track escapees and dismantle drunken brawls and sniff out drug busts. They are even called on duty when the Pope comes to Sydney.