The NSW Police Force has officially announced the arrival of six new German Shepherd puppies who have been named by young patients from the Sydney Children's Hospital.
The four female and two male pups from the 'C litter' were born to Bonnie (mother) and Vegas (father) on Monday 21 May 2021.
The Dog and Mounted Command asked for help from patients at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, to vote on their favourite names for the pups, starting with the letter C.
The females have been named Cody, Carrie, Carol, and Cali, while the boys have been called Charger and Coops.
The opportunity to name a puppy was a positive distraction for eight-year-old Alice, who unexpectedly needed to spend several hours in the emergency department.
"I wanted to name the puppy Cody because my best friend's name is Cody, and dogs are her favourite animal," Alice said.
Four-year-old Nate, a surgical patient at the hospital, voted for the name Charger.
"I picked Charger because it sounded like a really good Police dog name," Nate said.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott welcomed the latest furry additions to the police family.
"These pups represent the next generation of the Force's Police Dog team, one of the most highly-trained and respected in the world," Mr Elliott said.
"I join the children, who named the pups, in following the progress of the C-litter; I know they will achieve great things in the future," he said.
Superintendent Michael Rochester, Dog and Mounted Commander, said the children had left a lasting imprint on the Dog Unit with the naming of the newest canine recruits.
"Unfortunately, this year the kids weren't able to meet the pups in person because of the pandemic, but we were very glad we could get them involved virtually," Superintendent Rochester said.
"If these pups are successful through their training, they'll go on to help the community in many ways. Our dogs are used to find missing people, assist in pursuits, detect drugs, explosives and other paraphernalia, and have a variety of other specialist functions which make them an invaluable law enforcement capability."
Andrea Fuller, patron of the Dog and Mounted Command, said it was only fitting that the children from Sydney Children's Hospital named the new pups.
"These are some of the strongest and bravest children in our community, so it seems natural for them to be given the opportunity to name our newest frontline heroes," Mrs Fuller said.
"The pups of 'C' litter are a very welcome addition to the Dog and Mounted Command and will no doubt continue to develop into a valuable law enforcement capability, as well as loyal friends to their handlers."
The pups are currently being exposed to new environments and experiences as they undergo their foundational training.
