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Local fund for retired police dogs joins national charity
Lady Bathurst with the chief constable of West Midlands Police.
The merger will allow continued support for West Midlands police dogs.

The Retired West Midlands Police Dog Benevolent Fund (RWMPD Benevolent Fund) has merged with the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA) to help ensure that continued support is offered to retired service dogs in the area.

Founded in 2014, the RWMPD Benevolent Fund has been run by a small group of volunteers, raising money to support the veterinary costs of retired police dogs via a membership subscription scheme as well as through sales and donations.

The owners of dogs and horses which have retired after working for the police, fire and rescue services, the prison service, Border Force, or the National Crime Agency can find it difficult to get insurance for the animal. They currently receive no financial support towards veterinary bills and other costs from the government.

Since it was launched in 2022 by Lady Bathurst, the NFRSA has provided more than £50,000 in financial grants. There are an estimated 3,500 retired service animals in the UK and demand for financial support has risen in recent times owing to the cost-of-living crisis.

Terry Grove, the former treasurer of the RWMPD Benevolent Fund, said: “The establishment and the success of the NFRSA provides an opportunity to transition the Benevolent Fund into the NFRSA which will ensure that retired West Midlands Police Dogs can continue to be afforded the support they have benefited from over the past 10 years.”

In a statement, the NFRSA said: “We are deeply honoured that a local charity such as the RWMPD Benevolent Fund has decided to join our family.

“The trustees, and in particular, Terry Grove, have worked over the last ten years to ensure their retired police dogs are taken care of and we will continue that legacy as a national charity going forward.”

Image © National Foundation for Retired Service Animals

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.