Bucket list for terminally ill retired police dog

News & Videos

Mar 24, 2026

The family of a retired police dog diagnosed with terminal cancer have written a bucket list of activities for his final few weeks.

Bane, who joined Cambridgeshire Police in 2018 before retiring in 2023, collapsed on Tuesday and was taken to see a vet.

His heart was found to have a tumour and fluid on it, which was drained by a specialist to give him a little extra time with his owners, who live in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

They want to take the nine-year-old, who was given six weeks to live, on a final holiday and to his favourite playing field, and treat him to some new toys.

The family of a retired police dog diagnosed with terminal cancer have written a bucket list of activities for his final few weeks.

Bane, who joined Cambridgeshire Police in 2018 before retiring in 2023, collapsed on Tuesday and was taken to see a vet.

His heart was found to have a tumour and fluid on it, which was drained by a specialist to give him a little extra time with his owners, who live in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

They want to take the nine-year-old, who was given six weeks to live, on a final holiday and to his favourite playing field, and treat him to some new toys.

Callaghan, who worked for the police and lives with her partner and one-year-old daughter, adopted Bane after his handler could no longer keep him.

Having joined the police when he was just four months old, he served as a general purpose police dog for five years and also qualified as a firearms support dog.

“Bane is a gentle giant, but he did everything at 100mph,” added Callaghan, who said she had enjoyed “so many amazing adventures and trips” with him.

“He loves to bark and howl, but he forgets how frightening his bark is to those who don’t know him.

“But when he became a big brother to our daughter last year, he really showed his gentle side.”