A POLICE dog that sniffed out approximately £25,000 in cash hidden in a pile of clothes in a Forest house has won a prestigious award.

Stella, a three-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, works with the Gloucestershire Constabulary as part of Tri Force Specialist Operations, a unit

that provides specialist firearms, roads policing and dog response across Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Stella and her handler PC Claire Todd were one of three finalists of the Public Service Animal of the Year Award 2015 at the Daily Mirror Animal Hero awards in London.

Claire said: “I was very proud of Stella as this cash was extremely well hidden – without her amazing nose it would have been missed. Stella and I are very excited at winning the award. It’s an amazing experience but all three of the ‘top dogs’ in the category would be worthy winners.” 

Claire and Stella were called in to support Trading Standards after money and a large quantity of illegal tobacco had been found by the search team. It was vital to fully search the house and check that no cash had been missed. Stella homed in on the bedroom and behind a dog bed found the huge quantity of cash inside the heap of clothes.

Sergeant Geoff Blindell, head of the Gloucestershire hub of the Tri Force Dog Section, said: “We are all extremely pleased for Stella and Claire. It is a team effort and this award is a tribute to Claire’s hard work and dedication and also to our training department who train our dogs to such a high standard.”