Ministers are being urged to fulfill their “ethical and moral obligation” to provide pensions for retired police dogs. The Thin Blue Paw Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting retired service animals, is calling for a ring-fenced budget to help cover veterinary bills for these loyal dogs.
Since its founding in August 2020, the foundation has provided over £380,000 in grants to former handlers and new owners, covering the cost of medical care for retired police dogs. Many of these animals suffer from health problems due to the physically demanding nature of their work.
Kieran Stanbridge, Chairman of the foundation, emphasized the sacrifices made by police dogs. “Police dogs give the best years of their lives to the job,” Stanbridge said. “They risk their lives without hesitation, showing complete loyalty to their handlers and the public. Yet once they retire, they are left to face expensive medical bills, and responsibility falls on their handlers or new owners.”
Police dogs receive top-notch care during their service, but once they retire, that support ends, leaving owners to manage high vet bills. The foundation argues that the Home Office, which allocates funds to police forces, has a moral duty to support these animals after their years of service.
Currently, there are around 1,700 serving police dogs in the UK, with approximately 100 retiring each year. The foundation has launched a petition to push the government to provide financial assistance to those caring for retired police dogs.
Stanbridge added, “Retired police dogs often face health problems, such as arthritis, which can lead to costly treatments and ongoing care. Taking on a retired police dog is a big commitment, especially during the current cost-of-living crisis.”
Conditions like arthritis can result in annual vet bills of up to £2,400, the charity said. Since these are pre-existing conditions, they are typically not covered by pet insurance.
Julie Roy, a dog handler with Police Scotland, shared her experience caring for retired German shepherd Keach. Keach, who previously served with West Midlands Police, suffers from arthritis in her spine and knee. The Thin Blue Paw Foundation has been covering her pain medication costs.
“Vet bills are expensive, and these dogs have worked hard, often putting extra strain on their bodies,” Roy said. “They deserve ongoing support in retirement.”
Another handler, Claire Bird from West Sussex, adopted Belgian Malinois Fiji after she retired from Surrey Police. Fiji required two surgeries and ongoing medication for allergies, with the foundation contributing £10,000 towards her care.
Bird said, “I’ve kept all my working dogs when they retire, and taking care of them is expensive. But I couldn’t abandon them after everything they’ve done. There should be more support for these heroes after their service.”
The Thin Blue Paw Foundation’s petition aims to ensure that retired police dogs receive the care they deserve, so their owners are never forced to make the difficult decision of euthanizing their pets due to the cost of treatment.