Dog 'Too Friendly' for Police Given Government Job, Becomes Social Media Darling

Gavel is a good boy. Too good of a boy, it seemed. The German shepherd was pegged to join the police force to fight crime, but the academy said his sweet demeanour meant he “did not display the necessary aptitude for a life on the front line.”

Gavel, who comes from a long line of pedigrees, was fostered at the official residence of the Queensland governor in from April 2016, when he was just six weeks old, according to the BBC. When his hopes of joining the force were dashed, Governor Paul de Jersey gave the loving pooch a promotion to a more ceremonial role in February 2017.

Gavel was granted a new role as Vice-Regal Dog and his duties include greeting guests and tour groups at the grounds of Queensland’s Government House. He partakes in special ceremonies and is often seen in custom-made uniforms.