BOUNCE is the spaniel with a real spring in his step – especially now he has a new life as a police dog.It's no surprise that the lively animal is a springer spaniel, not when you discover that he cannot keep still for one minute.

By Richard Cornwell

BOUNCE is the spaniel with a real spring in his step – especially now he has a new life as a police dog.

It's no surprise that the lively animal is a springer spaniel, not when you discover that he cannot keep still for one minute.

He arrived at the Felixstowe Blue Cross adoption and animal welfare centre desperately in need of a new home and it was hoped he would settle and make an excellent pet for a local family.

"He was boisterous and totally out of control. He loved to play and hunt and chase things. In fact he loved it so much that he would not stop," said Tom Crowley, manager of the centre in Walton High Street.

"He managed to tire everyone out, except himself. On the face of it you might think that Bounce would make a great pet but who wants to chase a ball all day? Well Bounce did!"

The spaniel became unhappy in the kennels and things did not look too good for him until the animal behaviour adviser Leigh Steele contacted the Surrey police dog section.

The head of training visited the centre and put the dog through his paces.

"He agreed to take Bounce to the police training school and after a hard course Bounce passed out officially as a police search dog," said Mr Crowley.

His handler Pc Pete Greenfield describes him as "mad as a hatter" but he also says he is the best dog he has ever had.

He now works every day looking for explosives and searching areas before VIP visits. One of his most recent jobs was was on Epsom Downs for Derby Day.

Mr Crowley said staff at the Blue Cross were thrilled with Bounce's success story and wished him well in his new life.