Albert is a clever young working cocker showing plenty of talent at his grisly, yet very important job.

P.C. Matt Thompson of the West Midlands Police is a joy to listen to - he is focused 100% on Albert while he's waiting for his next "big" dog. Albee is showing plenty of potential and Matt is an articulate and humorous interviewee.  

Please be aware that, there is some detail about the reality of life as a victim recovery dog, which some might find unsettling. 

If you found this episode interesting, you may enjoy hearing about several other dogs in a similar line of work.  As Matt explains in this interview - Albee works in the city, but the job can be very different in different areas of the country, and these interviews illustrate that difference: 

• Jax the victim recovery dog with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary - who does a live demo on the show. Jax' handler is strong on the human element; and
• Rambo the forensic police dog, with some detail about recovering victims from water - a sub-specialism of this discipline. 

More amazing police dogs (other working dogs are available on the podcast - just scroll through). 

• Oreo, the digital asset dog
• Billy the drug detection dog
• The UK's National Police Dog Trials 2025
• P.D. Viper the firearms support dog
• P.D. Chase and the career arc of a general purpose police dog
• P.D. Meika, who searches for London criminals' cash, drugs and firearms 
• P.D. Ted, the explosives detection dog with the West Midlands Police

• Mika, the well being and trauma support dog in the Metropolitan Police
• Champ, the engagement dog working in child protection in the Victoria police

Do you work your dog or dogs? 

Or perhaps know someone else whose dog is doing an interesting job? Please get in touch!  I love to hear about dogs with interesting jobs.

Find me at kfairweather5@gmail.com or team@shineradio.uk.  

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2026