ANIMAL care students spent a ‘paw’ fect afternoon meeting some furry friends with a very in 'paw’tant role.

Level 2 students at the Glynllifon campus of Coleg Meirion Dwyfor met the dogs, breeders and trainers from the Llanerchymedd Amfides K9 organisation.

Amfides K9 breed, nurture and select highly skilled dogs for public protection roles such as police dogs or family guardians.

Mark and Sarah Sharpe, who run Amfides K9, gave the Glynllifon students a hands-on session with some their four-legged friends including several puppies in training.

They discussed their day-to-day activities and how they prepare puppies for their future roles. Police dogs have a variety of specialist skills and can be trained to detect drugs, money, firearms, explosives and more.

They also assist police in public order and firearms units, often in difficult situations or with lifesaving tasks.

Kate Jones, lecturer in land-based industries, at Glynllifon, helped organise the event.

She said: “It was really informative, and gave the students a glimpse of the job opportunities available to them after leaving college.”

One of the students, Emma Linden, from Conwy, said:

“The puppies were very playful, but also very well behaved. They knew their boundaries as they weren’t jumping up.

"They were very much attached to their handler and definitely understood who was in charge.”

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