Charity fears families taking on retired police dogs may have to give them up because of spiralling living costs - The Coventry Observer

Charity fears families taking on retired police dogs may have to give them up because of spiralling living costs

Coventry Editorial 1st May, 2022   0

THE UK’s leading police dog charity has urged people to help it ensure retired serving canines continue to have the retirement they deserve amidst the rising cost of living for owners.

The Thin Blue Paw Foundation trustee Kieran Stanbridge said he feared families taking on canine heroes may have to give them up due to soaring costs.

The PDSA found it cost more than £85-a-month to take care of a large breeds, such as German shepherds and labradors, and in these unprecedented financial times, rescue charities were reporting higher numbers of the dogs been relinquished or abandoned.

The foundation said police dogs received no support from the force they had served and in many cases were uninsurable due to their previous employment.




The Thin Blue Paw Foundation has 300 ex-police dogs registered to them and provides financial aid to owners so they can pay for monthly therapy and medication.

The cash also assists owners to give the dogs one-off life saving treatments and surgery.


One of Thin Blue Paw’s corporate partners, Barking Heads, will supply every dog signed up to the charity with free food for life.

Sgt Louise McMullon from Worcester was given German Shepherd PD Wolfie as she returned to work after ill health but in 2018 they were both badly injured after their car crashed into a tree while chasing armed robbers.

They both returned to work but Wolfie was retired from the service six weeks later after showing signs of PTSD.

Wolfie now lives with Louise as her pet but suffers from arthritis and other life long injuries.

Louise was solely responsible for Wolfie’s care, but the Thin Blue Paw now pays £185-per-month for his pain injection.

Louise said due to the increase in energy bills, fuel and National Insurance her family would have had to have seriously considered letting Wolfie go if the Thin Blue Paw Foundation did not offer support.

“Police dogs are an added responsibility.

“Wolfie’s care plan costs hundreds of pounds every month which is now very much needed to keep us afloat at home.”

Visit donate.thinbluepaw.org.uk to help support the Thin Blue Paw Foundation.

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