A HOMELESS MAN has given police officers in London a Christmas card and gift after they saved his injured dog.

Lou Richards, Claire Twig and Holly Hine were on patrol in West Hampstead on 19 December when they came across Rocco, a Rottweiler belonging to Darren Thornton.

Two-year-old Rocco had been run over and was suffering from an injury to his hind leg.

The officers tracked down a vet who came to the scene and treated Rocco free of charge, after hearing Darren was homeless. The woman driving the car offered to pay for Rocco’s ongoing treatment even though she was not at fault for the accident.

The Metropolitan Police has said that a box of chocolates and a Christmas card addressed to ‘Three Angels’ arrived at the police horses’ stables three days later. The gift was from Darren, thanking the officers for their help following the incident.

It was PC Richards’ last day with the Met before retirement.

“This means more to me than anything else I’ve done in my career,” she said.

PC Cath I’Anson of the Met’s mounted branch said:

Darren used to be a dog walker and walked Rocco on behalf of an elderly lady, until she moved into a care home and Darren became Rocco’s owner. Since then the two of them have been inseparable and it has meant a lot to Darren that our officers were able to ensure Rocco received the care he needed. Life is pretty tough for Darren at the moment and it is really heartwarming to see local officers and residents coming together to help out.

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