How a retired Luton Airport police dog helped heal a broken heart with the family who raised her
A police dog who kept people safe at Luton Airport has healed a broken heart after retiring with family who raised her as a pup.
Springer spaniel Red went to live with the Sexton family in 2020 when she was just seven weeks old.
PD Red, now five, started her training when she was 10 months old and served as an explosives detection dog with Bedfordshire Police at Luton Airport.
But her career was cut short when she broke her elbow in September 2024. Despite two operations, she was forced to retire a few months later.
Elizabeth Sexton, who lives in Bracknell, Berkshire, knew Red had to live with them after her daughter fostered her during her early life.
The 78-year-old said: “There was never any doubt that she’d come back to us when we found out what had happened. My husband, John, didn’t hesitate to offer her a home for the rest of her life.
“He adored her and spent many hours sitting with her and taking her on little walks as she slowly recovered and regained her strength.”
John died suddenly in May 2025, at the age of 85, leaving the whole family heartbroken.
Elizabeth added: “Red has been an absolute blessing and has brought me a lot of comfort and company since losing John. We believe she came back to us for a good reason.
“We are very happy to have had the opportunity to rehome her and are able to keep in touch with her lovely handler, who misses her a great deal. Red is loved by everyone who has been part of her life and always will be.”
Red is supported by the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, a charity that supports retired police dogs.
Chairman Kieran Stanbridge said: “Red gave four years of her life to help the police keep staff and passengers at Luton Airport safe. It’s a shame her career ended early and that she suffered such a catastrophic injury.
“It's so lovely that she was reunited with the Sextons – who she already had a bond with – to enjoy her retirement years, but so sad that she got to spend such a short amount of time with John, who clearly thought the world of her.
“Dogs are so intuitive and emotionally intelligent, so for her to step in and bring comfort to Elizabeth and the rest of the family at such a difficult time is really heartwarming.
“We’re incredibly proud that we can now be there for Red and Elizabeth, through her retirement, to ensure that she always has access to the best in veterinary care and treatment, should she ever need it.”