Birmingham’s very own Jude Bellingham was on the scoresheet in England’s 4-2 thrashing of Croatia (Wednesday, June 17). But, honestly, there’s only one Jude I care about: It’s this adorable pup, a part of the West Midlands Police’s new dog squad.
The new eight-strong squad has been named after the Three Lions superstars in honour of the FIFA World Cup 2026. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Jude, Nico, Morgan, Rogers, Declan, Saka, Ezri and Jordan—all Belgian Malinois.
Based in Balsall Common, West Midlands Police runs one of the UK’s largest and most successful police puppy development schemes. This litter was only born last month, but it’s hoped the dogs will be fully operational within the next 18 months.
“It’s always an exciting time when the World Cup is on, and we wanted to be a part of the feel-good mood too,” said Inspector Rachel Crump, who heads our police dog unit.
“We want our police dogs to be committed, courageous, and to show off their abilities, which is something we all hope the England players will be able to do this summer.
“Our new pups have big reputations to live up to, but we’re confident they will progress to become stars themselves in fighting crime and keeping the public safe.”
How do I foster one of these cute pups?
A puppy fosterer will assist in the overall development of potential police dogs, exposing them to as many different people, places, surfaces, and experiences as possible.
You will be matched with a puppy at 6-8 weeks old and will care for it until it reaches around 12 months old. It is a hugely challenging, but extremely rewarding role, which you can find out more about by heading here.
