Police defend issuing appeal for missing dog before man

A POLICE force yesterday defended a decision to put out an appeal for a missing police dog before issuing one for the man for whom she was searching.

Friends of Shane Austin, 38, from Somerset, who disappeared earlier this month, have expressed disappointment officers first went public with the name of the German Shepherd, Kessie.

Avon and Somerset Police said yesterday they had to exhaust all avenues before they released a missing person’s identity.