POLICE dogs and horses will be better protected in law thanks to a long-running campaign by the handler of a dog who was stabbed.<\/p>\n
The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill, which makes it an offence to harm working animals, has been given Royal approval by The Queen.<\/p>\n
The announcement was made in the House of Lords late in April. The Bill will now be known as the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act 2019.<\/p>\n
PC Dave Wardell and now-retired PD Finn were both stabbed trying to arrest a suspected gunman in Hertfordshire in 2016. Finn was knifed in the chest and head, while PC Wardell received hand injuries.<\/p>\n
PC Wardell says Finn saved his life that day but while the suspect was charged with actual bodily harm in relation to wounding PC Wardell’s hand, he faced only criminal damage charges over the injuries to Finn. The German Shepherd dog nearly died as a result of his injuries.<\/p>\n
Following the Bill’s third and final reading in the House of Lords, Sir Oliver Heald, MP for North East Hertfordshire, said: “I am delighted that service animals will now have the protection they need and will not simply be treated as property like a police radio.<\/p>\n
“Finn has attended every stage of the Bill and has been very well behaved, but I think he was entitled to his bark as the Bill passed the House of Lords.”<\/p>\n
Since the attack PC Wardell has been campaigning for the amendment to the 2006 Animal Welfare Act to be brought in, with #FinnsLaw trending and gaining support on social media.<\/p>\n
PC Wardell said: \u201cIt was important to get a positive out of the negative and it\u2019s been an amazing journey and an amazing achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n