A police dog in Australia was fired from his role on the force, but thankfully he landed on his paws and got an even better job.
A German shepherd named Gavel was hired by the Queensland Police Service in Brisbane, Eastern Australia, to sniff out explosives and catch thieves.
When Gavel was hired, the police released a statement which read:
Gavel comes from a long line of pedigree… if the family bloodline is anything to go by, in 16 months Gavel will be tracking and catching criminals as a proud member of the Queensland Dog Squad!
Unfortunately however, Gavel lost his job for one very adorable reason – he was too friendly.
It seems Gavel would much rather have had a nice stroke than spend his days smelling for things that could blow up. I also suspect he craved being called a good boy too much to anger thieves by catching them.
The police explained that Gavel ‘did not display the necessary aptitude for a life on the front line’.
So Gavel wasn’t fit for a role with the fuzz, but thankfully he soon found his calling.
Shortly after he turned in his badge, Gavel was swept up by Governor Paul de Jersey, who threw him a bone in the form of a new job.
The Governor posted a picture of Gavel in his new role to Facebook, with the caption:
He may have missed out on becoming a Queensland Police Service Dog, but it is abundantly clear that Gavel has the characteristics necessary to adequately fulfil duties as Queensland’s official Vice-Regal Dog #maroontothebone
The Governor of Queensland was first introduced to Gavel when the dog was just 10 weeks old, as through his police training, the dog lived at the Governor’s official residence.
Paul de Jersey must have fallen in love with the friendly pup, because he decided to officially adopt Gavel after he was let go from the police force.
The dog became the official Vice-Regal dog, and had some very pleasant duties. He signed (with a paw print) a contract which stated that his new job included welcoming visitors and attending official ceremonies.
Gavel even gets to wear some fancy uniforms when he’s on duty, including a smart coat with his name on, and a regal scarf.
The Governor spoke to the BBC about Gavel’s journey to his new job.
He said:
He has outgrown four ceremonial coats, undergone a career change (his official title is now Gavel VRD, ‘Vice-Regal Dog’), and brought untold joy to the lives of the governor, Mrs de Jersey, Government House staff, and the thousands of Queenslanders who have since visited the estate.
It sounds like he’s doing some excellent work.
Speaking to 7 News Brisbane, the Governor said:
We hope Gavel’s with us for a long, long time into the future.
As long as he stays the friendly, belly-rubbing-loving dog he seems to be, I don’t think he’ll be getting fired again any time soon.
Good job, Gavel!
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.