Charity calls for police dogs to receive ‘pension’
The charity is calling for mandatory financial support for retired police dogs.
The Thin Blue Paw Foundation has called on the UK government to introduce a ‘police dog pension’ to financially support police dogs after they retire.
The charity, which supports the healthcare of retired police dogs across the UK, says that strenuous police work can leave dogs with expensive health and medical conditions.
The Thin Blue Paw Foundation was launched in August 2020 and has since provided grants totalling over £380,000 to support police dogs after retirement. The grants cover the treatment of the dogs’ ongoing medical conditions, including life-saving surgery, medication and regular therapy.
While the charity remains committed to supporting retired police dogs, it now wants to see policy changes to provide ongoing funding for retiring police dogs.
The charity says that police dogs’ physically demanding work can mean they often retire with health problems as a result of their career. The most common condition they see is arthritis, which can cost an average of £200 each month to manage with medication.
The Thin Blue Paw Foundation estimates that it would cost around £2,400 a year more to care for a retired police dog than a normal pet dog of a similar age and breed.
Since police dogs’ health conditions are classed as pre-existing, they are often not covered by pet insurance policies. The charity has worked with insurance companies to launch special policies for police dogs, but believes now is the time for the government to contribute to their care.
There are 1,700 dogs serving on the UK’s police forces, with an estimated 100 dogs retiring each year. The Thin Blue Paw Foundation would like to see the UK government introduce mandatory financial assistance for all police service dogs.
Kieran Stanbridge, the charity’s chairman, said: “Taking on any dog is a responsibility, but taking on an older retired police dog with health problems is a huge commitment, particularly during the current cost of living crisis.
“We need to ensure that there is support in place for these heroic police dogs so that people aren’t put off the idea of rehoming them when they retire and so that owners are never faced with the heartbreaking decision of having them put to sleep because they can’t afford their treatment.”
Image © The Thin Blue Paw Foundation
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
