CHARITY The foundation also aims
to support and improve the welfare of working police dogs and celebrate their successes. The charity has held national awards for two years running, celebrating the UK’s bravest and most committed police dogs (and, of course, their handlers), as well as working to improve the lives of working dogs by running essential campaigns, such as free first aid training for dog handlers and providing free first aid kits to all dog units across the country. The charity has supported
many dogs over the last two years. Here are just a handful that they have helped.
Eight-year-old German Shepherd RPD Finn – who served with Sussex Police as a general-purpose dog for five years – needed life-saving surgery and specialist care after falling seriously ill in May 2023. Unfortunately, he was rushed to the vet after ingesting part of a toy, which had to be surgically removed and was taken into specialist care where he was treated for sepsis peritonitis, an inflammation of the peritoneal cavity caused by bacteria. Finn’s vet bill exceeded £22,000, and the charity
launched an urgent fundraising appeal to help raise money to support his owners with the cost. Finn, who lives with his former handler, Sue, and
her partner, Adam, and their four other dogs, in West Sussex, needed round-the-clock care but is now home
where his recovery continues. Vets described him as an ‘absolute fighter’. “We would have found the money somehow, but it would have been incredibly difficult. Our dogs are like our family, so we would have done whatever we needed for Finn,” commented Adam.
Eleven-year-old springer spaniel Charlie served with Leicestershire Police as a cadaver dog and was trained to track and help officers find vulnerable missing people and traces of bodies. When he retired in 2019, he was adopted by Robyn and her family. In February 2023, Charlie was playing with his ball when he ran into a bigger dog, breaking his leg.
“Charlie already had a weak front leg from his years of service, and when we adopted him, we were told he had arthritis. He’s a tough boy who doesn’t show his pain, but after colliding with the other dog, he was clearly in pain, so we rushed him to the vet,” said Robyn. Charlie needed surgery to repair his broken elbow and had a small metal plate and five screws fitted to stabilise the break, with the bill totalling more than £6,000. The Thin Blue Paw Foundation paid the total amount when the family received a bill.
Find out how you can help support the THIN BLUE PAW FOUNDATION and their incredible work at
www.thinbluepaw.org.uk/ supportus
Ten-year-old German Shepherd Gilly served Leicestershire Police for eight years before retiring to live with his handler Darren in 2021. Gilly was rushed to the vets in February 2023 and diagnosed with canine coronavirus before being placed on a drip, given medication, and kept in for two days.
“I was incredibly worried. While he’s insured, we knew we’d be responsible for the excess and 20 per cent of the total bill, which would still be a large amount with the overall bill coming in at over £1,000,” explained Darren. The Thin Blue Paw Foundation stepped in to pay the bill for Gilly who was honoured with a Special
Recognition Award alongside Darren at the 2021 Thin Blue Paw Awards.
The Thin Blue Paw isn’t the only charity that provides fantastic aftercare services for ex-police dogs. Here are some other charities who are also committed in helping retired ex-police dogs.
DOGS TRUST
www.dogstrust.org.uk
NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR RETIRED SERVICE ANIMALS
www.nfrsa.org.uk
HERO PAWS - EX MILITARY WORKING DOGS, DOG REHOMING, SERVICE DOG
www.heropaws.org.uk
WAGS - RETIRED POLICE DOGS
www.wagsretiredpolicedogs.org,uk
39 | POLICE | AUGUST | 2023
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