LANCASHIRE Police are appealing for four-footed recruits to join the dog section.

PC Dave King, of the dog training section, said: "We are very keen to hear from dog owners who are considering giving up their pets.

"Dogs are brought to us for a variety of reasons, sometimes because they become too difficult to control as family pets."

Dogs should be aged between a year and two and a half years old. German shepherds, rottweilers, dobermans and similar breeds are most suitable for general policing while spaniels and labradors can be trained for specialist work such as finding drugs. Dogs are monitored in their own home then spend a month at the training centre. If they are not suitable they are either returned to their owner or an alternative home is found. For details, call 01772 618412.

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