Should police dogs get a government pension?
Ministers are being urged to fulfill their "ethical and moral obligation" to police dogs by providing pensions for when the animals retire.
The Thin Blue Paw Foundation charity said it has provided grants up to £380,000 to owners, since it started in August 2020, to cover the vet bills of the animals with health issues after the hard physical work they undertook throughout their careers.
There is around 1,700 police dogs in the UK, according to the charity, with around 100 retiring each year.
Charity chairman Kieran Stanbridge said the government "shouldn't turn their backs" on these animals who have given "the best years of their lives to the job."
He said police dogs "throw themselves into dangerous situations without a second thought, they show unwavering loyalty to their handler and their job, and they give so much to help fight crime and keep the public safe.
"During their careers they receive the very best care and support from the force they serve with but, as soon as they hang up their harness, they're on their own, and the responsibility for their often-expensive care falls to their ex-handler or new owner.
"We believe that the Home Office, who allocate funding to police forces nationally, have an ethical and moral obligation to these dogs and shouldn't turn their backs on them when it's time to pay them back for everything they've done."
The charity has set up a petition to push ministers to ring-fence a budget to provide financial support for the owners.
Mr Stanbridge added: "Police dogs lead physically demanding lives and, when they retire – whether due to injury or age, they often have health problems as a result of their career, which can require expensive medication, therapy and management throughout their retirement.
"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 re-homing 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."
Dog handler Claire Bird, form West Sussex, adopted Belgian Malinois Fiji, who worked for Surrey Police.
She has required two operations, one for an infection of the uterus and another for a gastric procedure. She also needs regular medication for allergies. So far the foundation has paid £10,000 for her care.
Ms Bird said: "I've kept all of my working dogs when they retire and, as any dog owner knows, taking care of them is expensive.
"But I couldn't turn my back on them after everything they've given.
"I believe that there should be more support in place for these incredible heroes when they retire.
"They do so much for us while they're serving and yet when they retire, the Government and the police turn their backs on them."
Health conditions such as arthritis can lead to bills of up to £2,400 per year for pain medication with pre-existing medical conditions not covered by pet insurance, the charity said
Police Scotland dog handler Julie Roy was faced with large vet bills caring for retired German shepherd Keach, who worked for West Midlands Police before moving north of the border.
Keach has arthritis in her spin and knee, and the Thin Blue Paw Foundation pays for her pain medication.
Ms Roy said: "Vet bills are expensive and our dogs have worked hard in their working life, putting extra strain on the joints and the body.
"These dogs deserve to have ongoing support when they retire, so they can access the medication and treatment they need having served their communities for so long."
The Home Office has been approached for comment.
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