Police in Cheshire were led to a wanted man by the Labrador he had abandoned during an attempted getaway, according to The Sun.
The owner allegedly sped off on an e-scooter, but the dog guided officers to him.
Here's what to know
Officers in Runcorn, England, stopped 41-year-old Charles Foy because he was using an e-scooter illegally while his two dogs ran alongside him, the newspaper reported.
He drove off, leaving his Labrador behind.
Body camera footage from Cheshire police showed officers following the Labrador along the road and calling him a "good boy."
The dog brought them to Foy's home and then climbed into a police car.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
At the house, officers found Foy hiding in the loft.
"Get out. Get out now," one officer says in the footage, shared by The Sun. "You know you've done something. That's why you're hiding in the loft. Get down."
Foy said he was in the loft trying to sleep because too many people were staying at the property and denied being on the e-scooter.
More background
According to The Sun, Foy was found guilty of failing to stop for police, driving despite a disqualification, having no insurance on the vehicle, and refusing to provide a drug test.
He received a three-month jail term and a driving ban of four years and three months.
"Not only did he appear to be riding under the influence of substances that could severely impair his reaction times, but the fact of the matter is that he was riding an illegal vehicle that can reach considerable speeds in a matter of seconds and can have devastating effects should a collision occur," Police Constable Mike Smith of Runcorn Response said, per The Sun.
What's being done?
Smith added, "Whilst Foy showed no loyalty to his own dog as he attempted to make good his escape from pursuing police, the pup ultimately remained loyal and provided us with a vital lead — taking us straight to the address of his master."
Where can I learn more?
What happened in Cheshire was unusual, but the dog's role was not.
In conservation work and invasive species control, dogs often pick up what people miss — whether that's tracking endangered turtles or protecting seabirds.
• In Maine, scientists use trained canines to detect endangered wood turtles by scent alone.
• On Rathlin Island, a Labrador sniffs out invasive ferrets to protect seabirds.
• In Tennessee, a black Lab has become a secret weapon against destructive spotted lanternflies.
• In invasive species control, a pet dog showed a remarkable talent for finding elusive iguanas.
• In Australia, a hero dog made the discovery of a lifetime in a wildlife reserve.
These examples remind us how useful dogs can be when something — or someone — is hard to find. In Cheshire, those instincts allowed an abandoned Labrador to lead officers straight to the suspect they were looking for.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
