Introducing ‘Whisky’ — Orkney’s future drugs dog

Orkney Drugs Dog will shortly be taking ownership of their first Drug Detection Dog, named Whisky.

According to the Orkney Drugs Dog Charity, Police Scotland dog handler, PC Matthew Watson is due to retire from service towards the end of October and has kindly offered to hand his drug detection dog, Whisky, over to them.

Chairman, Andrew Drever said “Whisky is a nine-year-old Labrador who is a fully licensed Drugs Detection Dog trained in all substances. Whisky is presently working within North Division of Police Scotland, and I believe he has made appearances in Orkney in the past. We are delighted to have been offered this dog as he will get our charity up and running in the drug detection role quicker than first anticipated.”

Cllr Drever went on to say: “We are grateful to PC Watson for his kind offer and look forward to the handover at the end of October. This timescale should work in well with our Handler recruitment and we look forward to introducing the successful candidate and Whisky. We can then progress with the bonding and training before beginning the educational and detection role.”

PC Watson also said: “I’m pleased that Whisky is heading to Orkney where, along with a new Handler, he can get Orkney Drugs Dog underway.  Whisky has been a great working companion and has detected many drugs hauls throughout the Northern Division. I hope that he will continue to use his skills to detect illegal drugs coming into Orkney and make a difference within that community.”

Orkney Drugs Dog are in discussion with Police Scotland and hope to see PC Watson and Whisky visit Orkney during the middle of September where they will see him being put through his paces and give him a chance to meet the community.

Orkney Drugs Dog began campaigning to get an Orkney-based drugs do following concerns raised by the local Community Safety Partnership around the level of drug misuse and abuse in the county, and the disruption this can cause to family life in the country.