The heartwarming story of the Royal Family’s rescue dog Roxy

The Royal Family's rescue dog Roxy is far from any ordinary pet

 www.bridgetdavey.com
(Image credit: www.bridgetdavey.com)

Meet Roxy—the Royal Family’s beloved rescue dog. 


From the pound to the palace, it looks like PD Roxy has finally found her feet. 

The Staffordshire bull terrier, who was left at an animal shelter in Somerset after being abandoned by her owners in 2017, now holds an impressive track record of royal accomplishments to her collar—including protecting the Queen’s clan from bomb threats. 

The five-year-old hound’s potential to be a service dog was first recognized by staff at the RSPCA’s West Hatch Animal Shelter when her natural rapport with others and energetic spirit became hard to miss. 

“Roxy was the right age, was good around people and other dogs, and was really confident,” said Supervisor Sue Dicks.

The extroverted canine also displayed strong ball-skills, which would come as a major advantage in police dog training. "She was also very ball-focused—and was incredibly determined,” Sue added. 

Roxy was enrolled in a ten-week boot camp at Avon & Somerset Police, where she underwent intense training on how to detect explosives. The aspiring sniffer dog learned how to tell what scents to look for, how to identify her findings correctly, and how to communicate these discoveries to her handlers.

After successfully completing this training, Roxy was moved to the Hampshire and Thames Valley specialist search unit, where she spent two years under the supervision of PC Camilla Carter. The placement gave her the opportunity to practice the skills she acquired at Avon & Somerset and prepare for one of the biggest career challenges of all—official royal events. 

The go-getting Staffie has worked for the Royal Family a number of times since finishing her training at Hampshire and Thames Valley—and it looks like her excellent work ethic has earned the Queen’s stamp of approval. 

Roxy has clocked up a litany of royal engagements on her doggie CV over the past year, collaborating with police officers to ensure venues are cleared for explosives before the event begins. Her most high-profile events to date have been Prince Philip’s funeral and Princess Beatrice’s wedding, both of which took place at Windsor Castle

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence look on as the coffin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is carried into St George's Chapel during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on April 17, 2021 in Windsor, England. Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born 10 June 1921, in Greece. He served in the British Royal Navy and fought in WWII. He married the then Princess Elizabeth on 20 November 1947 and was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich by King VI. He served as Prince Consort to Queen Elizabeth II until his death on April 9 2021, months short of his 100th birthday. His funeral takes place today at Windsor Castle with only 30 guests invited due to Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. (Photo by Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage)


(Image credit: (Photo by Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage))

As the only Staffordshire bull terrier on their dog unit, Roxy is quite the character in the Hampshire and Thames Valley police force. She spends most of her time with PC Carter, sweeping locations before important events and checking suspicious packages for explosives. The job is undoubtedly a serious one, but Roxy always tries to find the lighter side of it.  

“Roxy is a superstar,” PC Carter said. “She is intelligent, very systematic and thorough. For her, it’s all a big, fun game and she just loves to work.” 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.