A new and much-needed law intended to protect police dogs and police horses has passed the committee stage in the Houses of Parliament.
So-called ‘Finns Law’ (named after Police Dog ‘Finn’ was repeatedly stabbed) would prevent individuals who attack police dogs and horses from claiming that they acted in ‘self defence’.
The third reading of the proposed Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill, brought to Parliament by the Rt Hon Sir Oliver Heald MP, will be in February of this year (2019).
Police Dog Finns handlers, PC Dave Wardell has told how everyone involved in the push for Finns Law is “on cloud nine”.
Police dog Finn was stabbed in the chest and head but did not let go of the suspect unti futher police units arrived at the scene.
PC Wardell also sustained injuries during the incident to his hand.
The suspect was charged for ABH as a result of the assault on PC Wardell but was only charged with ‘criminal damage’ for injuring Finn, despite nearly killing the dog.
At the time PD Finn was rushed to a Vets who spend several hours operating on the dog.
Mr Heald, MP for North East Hertfordshire, confirmed that Finn’s Law had gone through the committee and had
“unanimous cross-party and Government support, including from the Hertfordshire MPs for Stevenage (Stephen McPartland) and Hemel Hempstead (Sir Mike Penning)”.
“The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill is well on the way to becoming law and providing public recognition in law for our brave service animals for the first time,” he said.
This is great news for all service animals and their human colleagues.
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