Latest news with #ThinBluePawFoundation
BBC News
09-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Retired police dog looks after former handler's ill wife
A retired police dog has taken on a new role as a guardian and companion for her former handler's wife, who lives with multiple chronic health a seven-year-old German Shepherd, served with the Ministry of Defence Police for three and a half years. She also supported operations with police forces in Hampshire and the Thames she was diagnosed with degenerative spinal condition spondylosis and was adopted by her former handler, PC Ash Collins, and his wife Heidi, who suffers with endometriosis, fibromyalgia and polycystic ovary Collins, 40, said Donja - affectionately nicknamed "Donna Kebab" - instinctively sensed when she was unwell. "She won't leave my side and insists on following me, keeping a close eye on me, and laying by my side when I'm feeling unwell," said Mrs Collins, who lives in Wiltshire. "It's difficult for her to jump up onto the bed due to her back problems but, when I'm in pain and stuck in bed, she knows and will hop up to snuggle with me."After recent surgery, Donja stayed close to her, offering comfort and emotional support. "She knows how to cheer me up and when I need a smile she'll bring me a toy or nuzzle in for a cuddle," she said. Donja, who patrolled military sites including RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, is supported by the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, a charity that rehabilitates and protects serving and retired police pays for Donja's regular medication and provides her with free food through the charity's partnership with Barking chairman Kieran Stanbridge said: "After everything Donja has done, it's only fair that she gets to enjoy her retirement pain-free." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Swindon family join campaign for pensions for police dogs
The owners of a retired police dog are supporting a national campaign for the animals to be given pensions by the Collins and her husband, a Ministry of Defence Police dog handler, adopted German Shepherd Donna when she retired suddenly at the age of five on medical now seven, has a number of health conditions and the family say it is unfair that animals face being put down if their adoptive families cannot afford the Thin Blue Paw Foundation launched a petition on Thursday calling for ex-service dogs to receive a pension, but the Home Office says there are currently no plans to change the retirement process for service animals. Donna primarily patrolled atomic weapons sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield in Berkshire, but would often be called upon to track down suspects or vulnerable missing Collins, from Swindon, told the BBC there was "no question" that they would adopt Donna when she retired as she was "already a member of the family", but they have struggled with the cost of her vets Shepherds as a breed or prone to a range of muscular skeletal conditions, and ex-police service dogs can be even harder to insure due to the extra toll their working lives takes on their addition, many have been trained for "bite work" in response to a command or a specific threat, which is seen as an added risk for insurers. Donna's medication costs around £300 every two months and her family have sometimes needed support from the Thin Blue Paw Foundation to cover the Collins said: "It's a big responsibility to take ex-police dogs on but they are fantastic dogs.""These dogs are willing to give us everything. They will do everything that is needed and required of them," she said. "For them to give most of their lives, why do they not get some kind of financial support like a pension to take care of them in their old age? I don't think it's very fair."The Home Office told the BBC service animals were managed by individual police forces who rely on charities and volunteers, and there were currently no plans to change the retirement process.
Leader Live
05-06-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Ministers urged to give pensions to retired police dogs
Charity the Thin Blue Paw Foundation said it has provided grants of £380,000 to owners since it was set up in August 2020 to cover vet bills, because the animals are often left with health issues after working hard physically during their careers. Chairman Kieran Stanbridge said: 'Police dogs give the best years of their lives to the job. 'They 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.' There are around 1,700 serving police dogs in the UK, according to the foundation, and around 100 retire each year. It has launched a petition to push the Government for a ring-fenced budget to provide support for the owners of retired police dogs. 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 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.' Conditions such as arthritis can mean bills of up to £2,400 per year for pain medication, the charity said, and because these are pre-existing medical complaints they would not be covered by pet insurance. 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.' Fellow 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 a gastric procedure, and 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.'
Rhyl Journal
05-06-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Ministers urged to give pensions to retired police dogs
Charity the Thin Blue Paw Foundation said it has provided grants of £380,000 to owners since it was set up in August 2020 to cover vet bills, because the animals are often left with health issues after working hard physically during their careers. Chairman Kieran Stanbridge said: 'Police dogs give the best years of their lives to the job. 'They 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.' There are around 1,700 serving police dogs in the UK, according to the foundation, and around 100 retire each year. It has launched a petition to push the Government for a ring-fenced budget to provide support for the owners of retired police dogs. 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 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.' Conditions such as arthritis can mean bills of up to £2,400 per year for pain medication, the charity said, and because these are pre-existing medical complaints they would not be covered by pet insurance. 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.' Fellow 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 a gastric procedure, and 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.'
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Police dogs ‘should get pensions'
Police dogs should be given pensions in recognition of their service to the country, ministers have been told. The Thin Blue Paw Foundation (TBPF), a charity for retired police dogs, said ministers had an 'ethical and moral obligation' to the animals which often cost more to care for in retirement because of injuries and health problems derived from their years in police service. The charity said it has provided grants of £380,000 to owners since it was set up in August 2020, to cover vet bills and care for them after they retire. It is estimated it costs as much as £250 more a month to look after former police dogs than other dogs. Kieran Stanbridge, chairman of TBPF said: 'Police dogs give the best years of their lives to the job. 'They 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.' There are around 1,700 serving police dogs in the UK, according to the foundation, and roughly 100 retire each year. The charity has launched a petition to push the Government for a ring-fenced budget to provide support for the owners of retired police dogs. Conditions such as arthritis can mean bills of up to £2,400 per year for pain medication, the charity said, and because these are pre-existing medical complaints they would not be covered by pet insurance. Mr Stanbridge said: '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 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.' Julie Roy, a Police Scotland dog handler, 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.' Claire Bird, a fellow dog handler from West Sussex, adopted Fiji, a Belgian Malinois who worked for Surrey Police. She has required two operations, one for an infection of the uterus and a gastric procedure, and 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.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
