A POLICE dog so fearsome he once made a burglar ‘have an accident in his pants’ has signed off for the last time after helping to keep Lancashire’s streets safe for the last eight years.

Police Dog Zeus completed his last shift on Thursday morning and is now destined for a happy retirement in front of the fire in the home of his handler PC Pete Crowther. 

Over the years the 10-year-old Dutch Herder has been an integral part of the Lancashire Police team and among other duties has been instrumental in ensuring the safety of royals and celebrities visiting or passing through the Red Rose county. 

However PD Zeus, who predominantly worked as a tactical firearm support dog, ‘sadly saw his deployments increase’ over the last number of years, with more jobs than ever to attend to on the streets of Lancashire. 

A spokesman said: “Tonight PD Zeus will be booking on for his last shift before putting up his paws and enjoying his retirement.  

“He is always called into work when royalty visits our county. Over the years PD Zeus has been instrumental in ensuring the safe arrival, stay and departure of The Queen and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Be it overtly or covertly you can guarantee if a VIP is in Lancashire, PD Zeus will be nearby. 

“You hear PD Zeus before you see him. He even has to have his say when his handler is communicating over the radio. 

“Our communications operators have finally managed to decipher what his handler is saying. His bark is so determined a burglar caught in the act by PD Zeus once had a little accident in his trousers. 

“Zeus will continue to live with his handler and family and has given the paws up to his replacement PD Ebony. 

“Well done Zeus, the settee and fire are yours.”

Over the years the Lancashire Telegraph has published many articles about PD Zeus including his successful search and rescue missions and crime-stopping adventures.