Experience: My dog found a missing person and saved his life

He suddenly stopped dead, focused on a spot in front of him, then dragged me towards the undergrowth

When Bear stopped dead in his tracks, his nose turned towards some undergrowth, it was clear something was wrong. It was November last year – Bear’s 12th birthday, and his first proper walk after weeks of taking it easy while he recovered from serious surgery. The South Downs stretched before us. The sun had set and the temperature was dropping.

Bear is a retired police dog – a huge, 48kg German shepherd. He entered the force as a puppy, then spent six years in active service, working alongside firearms units as well as tracking suspects and missing people.