Delighted Sydney Children’s Hospital patients get to name police pups

Five new canine recruits for the NSW Police Dog Unit have been officially been named by patients at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick.

Children’s Hospital patient Bella Dugganwith Senior Constable Mark Wilkins and police puppy Zorro. Picture: John Appleyard

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Five new canine recruits for the NSW Police Dog Unit have been officially been named by patients at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick.

The playful German shepherds — three females and two males — were born on Christmas Eve and are part of the “Z” litter of police pups.

A list of names starting with the letter Z was provided to the hospital last month.

Children's Hospital patient Paris Papanicolaou meets new police puppy Zorro. Picture: John Appleyard

Children researched the names before voting for their favourites.

Zoom will go fast, Zorro will be strong and Zoe is likely to be the most popular.

There is also Zara and Zaza.

Jett Waldron, 7, who is undergoing chemotherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma, said he picked Zoom because he thought the pup would be fast on his feet.

Senior constable Mark Wilkins and Children's Hospital patient Tahlia Borg. Picture: John Appleyard

“It’s awesome — it definitely brightens their spirits,” Jett’s mother Melanie Waldron said.

Bella Duggan, 12, who has cardiomyopathy, said Zara was her favourite name.

She said she loved playing with the dogs because they were “really cute and fun”.

Senior constables Mark Wilkins and Nasr Hwaylo with Iona and Xari Compagnoni. They are meeting pups Zorro and Zala. Picture: John Appleyard

Sydney Children’s Hospitals spokeswoman Gilly Paxton said: “Every child here will remember their stay in hospital for the puppies and not because they were in hospital.”

The dogs will one day be used for duties including foot pursuits and missing person searches.