Update on death of PD Zara from Police Scotland

May 3, 2025

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It is with deep sadness that PD Zara was let down by those in Police Scotland who were entrusted with her welfare. It is clear from Police Dog Zara’s independent veterinary medical records that her death was not due to legitimate welfare reasons or concerns, as stated by Police Scotland on numerous occasions, both directly to the foundation and in media statements since December 2024.

The veterinary medical records confirm that Police Dog Zara’s prognosis was described as “great” following surgery, and that the specialist veterinary referral practice had requested authorisation for a computed tomography (CT) scan to determine whether Zara required one or two surgeries. The specialist veterinary hospital confirmed they could accommodate the scans on the same day.

Instead of authorising the above requests from the veterinary specialists, the veterinary medical records document that the Inspector of the Police Scotland Dog Unit authorised that Police Dog Zara be euthanised.

The decision to euthanise Police Dog Zara followed the veterinary hospital’s request for further imaging scans and their documented medical expertise indicating that Zara’s prognosis was “great”. This information therefore confirms that the decision to euthanise Zara was not in line with veterinary advice. It raises serious concerns that Police Scotland appear to have not adhered to the new National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice (APP), which provides guidance on the minimum standards for the use and care of police dogs.

Our foundation has written to Chief Constable Jo Farrell on three occasions, once in our open letter published in February 2025, prior to obtaining Police Dog Zara’s independent veterinary medical records, in which we requested an independent investigation into the decision-making surrounding Zara’s death; and privately on two further occasions after receiving a copy of Zara’s records, requesting a meeting with senior representatives of Police Scotland to discuss our concerns. No response for a meeting was forthcoming.

By way of background, following the initial reply from the Assistant Chief Constable, our foundation submitted a second request for a copy of Zara’s medical records directly from Police Scotland, in order to corroborate the account provided. This was in addition to our original Freedom of Information request submitted in February 2025. Neither request has been acknowledged or responded to by Police Scotland.

In addition, the foundation was disappointed to learn that our request for an independent investigation into the death of PD Zara was allocated to the same officer who authorised her euthanasia, thereby rendering the investigation neither independent nor impartial.

Police Scotland has provided several explanations in an attempt to justify the euthanasia of PD Zara, but none align with, nor are corroborated by the independent veterinary medical records, which state: “prognosis great once recovered”, “the rest we can fix”, and confirm that Zara’s “nerve function seems okay”.

The public rightly expects that if police dogs are deployed in the line of duty by their force under the command of their respective Chief Constables, they are afforded appropriate veterinary care when injured, in accordance with veterinary directives, whether to return to full health and continue serving, or to retire with dignity and enjoy life as a family pet.

The death of Zara highlights the urgent need for significant reform in the welfare standards required of police forces in the deployment and care of serving police dogs across the United Kingdom, and for greater accountability to ensure that these heroic animals who serve side by side with their human colleagues, are not treated as mere tools or disposable assets.

It is with deep sadness that PD Zara was let down by those who were entrusted with her care. The foundation will continue to hold police forces to account where there is clear evidence of failings in welfare standards, to ensure that serving police dogs are afforded the highest standards of animal welfare by those entrusted with their care.

The foundation can confirm that on Friday 2nd May 2025 at 16:30 hrs, we received a letter from Deputy Chief Constable Designate Jane Connors LVO QPM, extending an invitation to representatives of our foundation to meet with senior representatives of Police Scotland in the coming weeks, to discuss our concerns and ensure that the foundation can influence and collaborate with Police Scotland on their future approach to such incidents.

Since our launch in 2020, the foundation has been committed to supporting the welfare and care of serving and retired police dogs in Scotland, having established the very first medical pension for retired Scottish police dogs, and are proud to support many throughout their retirements.

We remain committed to securing justice for Police Dog Zara and look forward to meeting with Police Scotland in the coming weeks to hold them to account for providing higher welfare standards. Our aim is to ensure the very best care for serving and retired police dogs across Scotland in the months and years ahead, while also strengthening our working relationship.