#PENSIONSFORPOLICEDOGS

PENSIONS FOR POLICE DOGS

After a lifetime of service, police dogs are not afforded a pension in their retirement. We’re therefore calling on the government to provide centrally funded pensions for police dogs across the United Kingdom, it’s the least they deserve after spending their lives protecting us.

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POLICE DOGS DESERVE A PENSION TOO!

At the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, we have launched a petition calling on the Government to introduce mandatory financial support for retired police dogs – what we’re calling police dog pensions.

Why? Because when these incredible dogs finish their service, they often carry the scars – both physical and emotional – of years spent protecting the public. But once they hang up their harness, their care becomes the responsibility of their handler or new owner, with no financial help from the Government or the police force they served with. We think that’s wrong.

Since our foundation launched in August 2020, we’ve provided over £380,000 in grants to help cover the cost of veterinary and rehabilitation treatment for retired police dogs across the United Kingdom. But we can’t do it alone, and we shouldn’t have to.

Join us and sign our petition below, calling on the Government to do the right thing and provide these canine heroes with the pension they deserve.

Our Chairman Kieran Stanbridge said: “Police dogs give the best years of their lives to the job. They throw themselves into dangerous situations without a second thought, they show unwavering loyalty to their handler and their job, and they give so much to help fight crime and keep the public safe.

“During their careers they receive the very best care and support from the police force they serve with but, as soon as they hang up their harness, they’re on their own, and the responsibility for their often expensive care falls to their ex-handler or new owner.

“We believe that the Home Office who allocate funding to police forces nationally have an ethical and moral obligation to these dogs and shouldn’t turn their backs on them, when it’s time to pay them back for everything they’ve done. That’s why we’ve launched our campaign calling on the Government to introduce measures that ensure all retired police dogs receive support – or police dogs pensions – when they retire.”

There are around 1,700 police dogs currently serving across the United Kingdom’s 45 police forces, and around 100 retire every year. At the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, we’ve proudly supported the nation’s retired police dogs since we launched in 2020 – and we’ll continue to do so. But we know it’s not enough.

We want to see real policy change to secure the futures of retired police dogs, ensuring they have the retirement they deserve, provided by the Government they have so loyally served. That’s why we’ve launched our petition, and we’re asking the public to stand with us.

We’re calling on the Government to ring fence budget that provides support for retired police dogs – so their owners or handlers do not have to shoulder the heavy financial burden. These dogs have given so much. Now it’s time that the Government gives them something back.

You can support the campaign by signing our petition below, by writing a personal letter to your Member of Parliament, and by sharing your support on social media using #PensionsForPoliceDogs – don’t forget to tag us @ThinBluePaw.