Police Dog Finn

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Moobli

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Could everyone please sign the petition below which proposes that UK police dogs and police horses are afforded the same status as police officers when injured or killed in the line of duty.

The petition follows the serious assault on PD Finn and his handler PC Dave Wardell in Stevenage in Hertfordshire. During the incident PD Finn grabbed the offender's leg, and refused to let go even after being stabbed twice. Once through the lung.

This photo of brave PD Finn relaxing by the fire shows the actual extent of his injuries, and the surgery required to save his life.
I find this image as shocking as I do the fact that we still don't treat these amazing animals as equals and give them appropriate status.

If you believe this should change, please sign this petition

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/168678



Also a short video showing the bond between dog and handler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=14&v=hYNETjUPchY
 
What a beautiful, courageous and faithful dog Finn is, I'm so glad he made it. That is one serious/life threatening injury he sustained.

I fully understand why these Police service animals should be held in such esteem. They do an incredible job working alongside their Police handlers or riders in their work to serve us the public. But I don't get any more info when I click on 'more details' in the link, other than 'Police Dog Finn to name but one'.

OP, doesn't The Welfare of Animals Act 2006 covers this type of injury/attack caused by a person, to any dog or horse, (including Police dogs and Police horses). If proven guilty of causing unnecessary suffering, the maximum fine the defendant could face is a fine up to £20,000 and or up to 51 weeks of imprisonment.

If the petition is successful and Police service dogs and horses are given the same status as Police officers who are injured or killed in the line of duty, what will the affect be for the injured/killed service animal? Is the petitioning for a separate law to be introduced which will cover Police service animals specifically? eg a perpetrator could expect to receive a heftier fine and/or longer possible imprisonment, than that already stated under the Animal Welfare Act? or is it mainly for their status to be raised? and if so how?
 
Poor boy.
His handler must be really upset - I work in a prison & 2 of our dogs were attacked, their handlers put themselves in real danger to protect their dogs, they were injured in the process but they did save the dogs, who were also injured but they're all fine now & back at work.
Somebody did say that the prison service treats it as a staff assault, don't know if it's true or not but I hope it is.
 
chillipup said:
What a beautiful, courageous and faithful dog Finn is, I'm so glad he made it. That is one serious/life threatening injury he sustained.

I fully understand why these Police service animals should be held in such esteem. They do an incredible job working alongside their Police handlers or riders in their work to serve us the public. But I don't get any more info when I click on 'more details' in the link, other than 'Police Dog Finn to name but one'.

OP, doesn't The Welfare of Animals Act 2006 covers this type of injury/attack caused by a person, to any dog or horse, (including Police dogs and Police horses). If proven guilty of causing unnecessary suffering, the maximum fine the defendant could face is a fine up to £20,000 and or up to 51 weeks of imprisonment.

If the petition is successful and Police service dogs and horses are given the same status as Police officers who are injured or killed in the line of duty, what will the affect be for the injured/killed service animal? Is the petitioning for a separate law to be introduced which will cover Police service animals specifically? eg a perpetrator could expect to receive a heftier fine and/or longer possible imprisonment, than that already stated under the Animal Welfare Act? or is it mainly for their status to be raised? and if so how?
Click to expand...


Despite the serious nature of the attack, the offence against PD Finn was classed as criminal damage as police dogs are currently classed as property. The petition is calling for police dogs like Finn, and police horses, to be recognised as 'police officers', as they are in the United States. This would mean the offender could be charged with assault (or attempted murder etc) against the dog (or horse) as well as the handler (or rider).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
WorkingGSD said:
Despite the serious nature of the attack, the offence against PD Finn was classed as criminal damage as police dogs are currently classed as property. The petition is calling for police dogs like Finn, and police horses, to be recognised as 'police officers', as they are in the United States. This would mean the offender could be charged with assault (or attempted murder etc) against the dog (or horse) as well as the handler (or rider).
Click to expand...

I don't think that is quite right as criminal damage does not apply to animals, it would be a specific animal cruelty offence - and I looked into this in relation to what appeared to be a malicious assault on a horse (but turned out to be self harm by the horse instead!!)
 
Brownmare said:
I don't think that is quite right as criminal damage does not apply to animals, it would be a specific animal cruelty offence - and I looked into this in relation to what appeared to be a malicious assault on a horse (but turned out to be self harm by the horse instead!!)
Click to expand...

Criminal damage does apply to dogs as they are classed as "property" under UK Law. However, an attack on a police dog could also be treated as animal cruelty under s4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
 
I understand your concern but this won't stop criminals bringing claims for bite injuries. What we really need is a few more policemen/women so that risks aren't taken when their numbers are overstretched.
 
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