Government is facing calls to provide Pension For retirement Police dogsRecognizing their service and sacrifice.
The Thin Blue Pav Foundation has issued an appeal, which highlights the financial tension placed on the former handler and new owners.
Since August 2020, the Foundation has distributed £ 380,000 to the grant to cover veterinary expenses, often stems from physical work demanding dogs, addressing health issues.
Foundation president Kiran Stanbridge said that police dogs give “the best years of their lives” for the dog job.
“They throw themselves in dangerous situations without another idea … to fight crime and help the public protect.”
While in service, dogs receive extensive care, but on retirement, they are left to rely on their handlers or new owners, who are often for the bills for expensive bills, they said.
Mr. Stanbridge argues that House officePolice forces are responsible for allocating funds, “there is a moral and moral obligation for these dogs” and should provide them in their retirement.
According to the Foundation, there are about 1,700 serving police dogs in the UK, and around 100 retires each year.
It has introduced a petition to push the government for a ring-fencing budget to provide assistance to the owners of retired police dogs.
“It is a responsibility to take any dog, but taking an old -retired police dog with health problems is a major commitment, especially during the current cost of a living crisis,” Sri Stanbridge said.
“We need to ensure that these brave police are supported for dogs so that people do not put the idea of resuming them when retired and so that the owners never face heart -wrenching decisions to sleep as they cannot treat themselves.”
Conditions like arthritis can mean a bill of up to £ 2,400 per year for pain medicine, and because these are already present medical complaints that will not be covered by pet insurance.
Police Scotland Dog Handler Julie Roy faced big veterinarian bills taking care of retired German Shepherd Ketch, who worked West Middlendes Police Before going to the border north.
The ketch has arthritis in its spine and knee, and the thin blue pav foundation pays for her pain medicine.
Ms. Roy said: “Veterinary bills are expensive and our dogs have worked hard in their working life, which puts extra stress on joints and body.
“These dogs are worthy of ongoing support when retiring, so they can use medication and treatment that they need to serve their communities for so long.”
West Sussex’s Fellow Dog Handler Claire Bird adopted Belgium Malinois Fiji, who worked for Surrey Police.
He needs two operations for uterine infection and gastric process, and regular medication for allergies. So far, the Foundation has paid £ 10,000 for his care.
Ms. Bird said: “I have kept all my working dogs when they retire and, as the owner of any dog knows, is expensive to take care of them.
“But I could not take my back on them after everything given by me.
“I believe that when retired, there should be more support for these incredible heroes.
“They do a lot for us when they are serving and yet when they retired, the government and the police turned their backs on them.”
