A COMMUNITY patrol service in Tameside has welcomed a new four-legged friend to its team, following the tragic and sudden death of a beloved canine companion.
A nine-week-old German Shepherd puppy is now part of the community group Crimewatchers – which has been working to keep the towns of Droylsden and Audenshaw safe since 2020.
He has been named Storm, after the group put it to the vote on social media and asked supporters to choose between that name or Walter.
Storm was chosen after ‘completely stealing the heart’ of the group’s founder, who spent last weekend visiting several litters of puppies across the country.
“To be honest, I originally set out with the intention of getting a female but he quickly stood out from the rest,” said Andy, who would like to remain anonymous. “His calm temperament and the gentle look in his eyes made it clear – he was the one.
“Although all the puppies we saw were absolutely adorable, there was just something special about him.”
Giving Storm a new forever home comes after Shadow, a German Shepherd, died following an alleged hit-and-run incident on April 30.
“I lost more than just my dog,” said Andy. “I lost my partner, my protector and one of the truest souls I’ve ever known.
“Shadow wasn’t just part of our patrol team – he was the team. Always alert, always brave, and always by my side. Whether we were out on a night patrol or walking the fields after a long shift, he gave everything with unwavering loyalty and love.”
Crimewatchers have trained and licensed members who patrol the streets and work with police officers. The group has built up a loyal following on social media since starting up during the Covid pandemic.
Touching messages of condolence poured in from across the community – and from places as far as North Wales – to Shadow, which left the group lost for words.
“The love and support you’ve all shown for Shadow has truly blown me away,” said Andy. “I can’t begin to describe how much I’m struggling with what’s happened, but I wanted to reach out and thank every single one of you for being there for us.
“Knowing how much you all loved him just shows what a social and special dog he really was – and what the word community truly means. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Amid the public outpouring of love for Shadow, Jackie Bond, a supporter of the group, launched a GoFundMe page to raise funds to pay tribute to the dog – which has received hundreds of donations amounting to over £11,300.
Andy said the group would talk to those who donated about the best way to use the funds – which included buying and training a new patrol dog.
The group’s regular patrols resumed on Wednesday (May 14).