POLICE want your pounds for their hounds.

West Yorkshire Police’s dog section is offering people the chance to put its animals through training school.

Sponsors could get pictures, updates on their dog’s progress and VIP visits to the dog section.

Insp Lorna Meredith, head of the dog section, said: “Traditionally we have relied upon dogs being offered to the police from members of the public, but the trouble with that is you can’t easily plan ahead.

“This has been one of the real drivers for the puppy scheme and we are now in the process of breeding our own dogs which are of the right temperament and calibre to become our future operational police dogs.

“From pup to patrol is a two-year process and during this time all sorts of unforeseen problems can arise which won’t have been budgeted for and any sponsorship would be put to excellent use to get the pups back on track.”

Sponsors can opt for gold, silver or bronze sponsorship.

Bronze sponsors get a framed picture and certificate, regular progress reports on the pup’s training and a framed picture of the dog with its handler when it makes the grade.

Silver sponsors also get to name their dog and visit the dog section.

Gold sponsors get an invite to the Dog Handler of the Year awards ceremony and a VIP visit to operations support. For details call Harriet Mainprize on 0845 6060606.