Finn (dog)

Last updated

Finn
Other name(s)Cutter (litter name) [1] [2]
Species Dog
Breed German Shepherd
SexMale
BornMarch 2009
Balsall Common, West Midlands, England
Died27 July 2023 (aged 14)
Nation fromBritish
Occupation General purpose police dog
EmployerBedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Hertfordshire Police Dog Unit (retired)
Years active7
OwnerPC Dave Wardell
AppearanceGerman Shepherd
Awards PDSA Gold Medal
2017 IFAW Animal of the Year Award

Finn was a German Shepherd and retired police dog of the Hertfordshire Constabulary in England. In October 2016, Finn and his handler confronted a youth who was suspected of being armed; the dog was stabbed and the police officer injured to the hand with a large knife. The dog required emergency surgery, but he returned to duty eleven weeks later. The case received widespread media coverage and initiated a popular campaign to improve legal protection for animals in public service, resulting in a 2019 act of parliament known as "Finn's Law", which went into effect as law in England and Wales in June 2019. It was later proposed for incorporation into law in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Contents

The incident

On 5 October 2016, Finn's handler, PC Dave Wardell, operating with the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police Dog Unit, was called to an incident in Stevenage where there was a search for a male suspect, believed to be armed. PC Wardell and Finn located the suspect who ran off. [3] After a shouted warning, PC Wardell released Finn and the dog seized the youth's leg as he was attempting to escape over a fence. Falling on the ground together, the suspect stabbed the dog in the chest with a large knife, before making a second attack in which he slashed the dog's head and PC Wardell's hand. [4] Despite this, Finn retained his grip on the suspect, enabling PC Wardell to disarm the youth. When other officers arrived, Finn was taken to a veterinary surgeon and then on to a specialist where he received emergency surgery in which part of his lung was removed. PC Wardell later received medical treatment for a hand injury. Fortunately for PC Wardell this was a superficial injury with no long lasting effects on his hand. [5]

Finn recovered from the attack and returned to duty eleven weeks later, before retiring due to age, shortly before his eighth birthday in March 2017. [6] In May 2017 at Stevenage Youth Court, a 16 year-old boy from Lewisham in south London was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm for the attack on PC Wardell, but could only be convicted of criminal damage for stabbing the dog. His conviction for Criminal Damage (over £5,000) actually gave higher sentencing guidelines for the courts when passing sentence to the defendant. [3] He was later sentenced to eight months' detention in a Young Offender Institution. [7]

"Finn's Law"

Finn's case highlighted the limited legal sanctions available against those who injure animals being used by the emergency services. An online petition on the UK Parliament petitions website for a "Finn's Law" attracted more than 127,000 signatures, resulting in the Sentencing Council recommending that in future, similar events should be treated as an "aggravated offence" rather than criminal damage. However, Finn For Change Member of Parliament, Sir Oliver Heald, with Dave Wardell and Finn as mascots took the matter further by proposing a private member's bill, the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill, which was debated in the House of Commons on 5 December 2017. [8] The bill, which was introduced to the House of Commons on 13 June 2018, provided:

"...for increased protection for service animals by amending section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the "2006 Act") [and also] addresses public concerns about attacks on service animals, where a defendant accused of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal could claim they were protecting themselves and are justified in using physical force against a service animal."

The bill completed all the parliamentary stages and received royal assent on 8 April 2019 as the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act 2019. [9] and came into force in England and Wales in June 2019. [10]

In September 2019, Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, announced that a new Animal Welfare Bill, incorporating "Finn's Law", would be part of the new programme of legislation to be introduced into the Scottish Parliament. [11] [ clarification needed ] On 10 February 2020, a motion was put forward through the Northern Ireland Assembly to incorporate "Finn's Law" to Northern Ireland under its own animal welfare laws. The motion was passed unanimously, and was passed to the Northern Irish Agricultural minister Edwin Poots. [12] [ clarification needed ]

Recognition

In October 2017, Finn was awarded the International Fund for Animal Welfare "Animal of the Year Award" in a ceremony at the House of Lords. [13] In May 2018, Finn was awarded the PDSA Gold Medal "for life-saving devotion to duty, despite being grievously injured while preventing a violent criminal from evading arrest", [14] at the charity's music festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, which was the first time the award had been presented at a public ceremony. [15] In March 2019, Finn was awarded the Kennel Club's "Friends for Life" prize at the annual Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. [16]

In the spring of 2019, Dave Wardell and Finn participated in the television talent show, Britain's Got Talent , with a mind-reading act which took them to the final and prompted an emotional response from the judges. [17]

Thin Blue Paw Foundation

In May 2020 Finn was named as an Ambassador for the charity the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, [18] an organisation to help support retired police dogs once they have left their role as working police dogs. [19] This is primarily aimed at the other 35 territorial and specialist constabularies, that don’t have their own retired police dog charities like in Finn's home constabulary of Hertfordshire.

Death

Finn died peacefully in his sleep on 27 July 2023, aged 14. The Thin Blue Paw Foundation posted on Twitter that Finn had left a "huge legacy". [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German Shepherd</span> German breed of shepherd dog

The German Shepherd, also known in Britain as an Alsatian, is a German breed of working dog of medium to large size. The breed was developed by Max von Stephanitz using various traditional German herding dogs from 1899.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puppy mill</span> Type of commercial dog breeding facility

A puppy mill, also known as a puppy farm, is a commercial dog breeding facility characterized by quick breeding and poor conditions. Although no standardized legal definition for "puppy mill" exists, a definition was established in Avenson v. Zegart in 1984 as "a dog breeding operation in which the health of the dogs is disregarded to maintain a low overhead and maximize profits". They are cited as being a result of increased demand for household pets, especially after World War II. The Veterinary Medical Association of the Humane Society of the United States defines the main characteristics of a puppy mill as "emphasis on quantity over quality, indiscriminate breeding, continuous confinement, lack of human contact and environmental enrichment, poor husbandry, and minimal to no veterinary care."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">English Springer Spaniel</span> Breed of gun dog

The English Springer Spaniel is a breed of gun dog in the Spaniel group traditionally used for flushing and retrieving game. They are descended from the Norfolk or Shropshire Spaniels of the mid-19th century; the breed has diverged into separate show and working lines. It is closely related to the Welsh Springer Spaniel and very closely to the English Cocker Spaniel; less than a century ago, springers and cockers would come from the same litter. The smaller "cockers" were used in woodcock hunting while their larger littermates were used to flush, or "spring", other game birds, hence the name. In 1902, The Kennel Club recognized the English Springer Spaniel as a distinct breed. They are used as sniffer dogs on a widespread basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dickin Medal</span> Award for animals in wartime

The PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in World War II. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown, and pale blue. It is awarded to animals that have displayed "conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving or associated with any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Units". The award is commonly referred to as "the animals' Victoria Cross".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Dispensary for Sick Animals</span> Veterinary charity in the United Kingdom

The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) is the UK's leading veterinary charity carrying out more than one million free veterinary consultations a year. It was founded in 1917 by Maria Dickin to provide care for sick and injured animals of the poor. Until 2009 PDSA was the largest private employer of fully qualified veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in the UK. Use of the PDSA's services are restricted to those within their Catchment area

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dogs Trust</span> Largest dog welfare charity in the United Kingdom (started in 1891)

Dogs Trust, known until 2003 as the National Canine Defence League, is a British animal welfare charity and humane society which specialises in the well-being of dogs. It is the largest dog welfare charity in the United Kingdom, caring for over 15,000 animals each year. Dogs Trust's primary objective is to protect all dogs in the UK and elsewhere from maltreatment, cruelty and suffering. It focuses on the rehabilitation and rehoming of dogs which have been either abandoned or given up by their owners through rehoming services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chips (dog)</span> US Military dog (1940–1946)

Chips (1940–1946) was a trained sentry dog for United States Army, and reputedly the most decorated war dog from World War II. Chips was a German Shepherd-Collie-Malamute mix owned by Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York. He was bred by C.C. Moore, and was the son of Margot Jute, a half collie, half German shepherd, and Husky, a malamute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PDSA Gold Medal</span> Bravery award to animals

The PDSA Gold Medal is an animal bravery award that acknowledges the bravery and devotion to duty of animals. It was created by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in 2001, and is now recognised as the animal equivalent of the George Cross. The Gold Medal is considered as the civilian equivalent to PDSA's Dickin Medal for military animals. An animal can be awarded the PDSA Gold Medal if it assists in saving human or non-human life when its own life is in danger or through exceptional devotion to duty. The medal can also be awarded to animals in public service, such as police or rescue dogs, if the animal dies or suffers serious injury while carrying out its official duties in the face of armed and violent opposition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orca (dog)</span> Golden retriever assistance dog

Orca was a male golden retriever trained by the UK charity Canine Partners as an assistance dog. As of 2007 he was one of 12 dogs to be awarded the PDSA Gold Medal, the highest award for outstanding bravery and dedication by an assistance dog, for remarkable dedication, tenacity and initiative in saving his owners' life in 2003, when he was still a young dog of 17 months age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine Animal Welfare Society</span> Organization

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is a volunteer-based, non-government organization whose goal is to prevent animal cruelty through education, animal sheltering and advocacy, based in Quezon City, Philippines. It was founded in 1954 by Muriel Jay. PAWS believes that the creation of a more peaceful society starts with the widening of mankind's circle of compassion which includes animals, thereby envisions a nation that respects animals, practices responsible pet ownership and protects wildlife. The volunteer-based organization rehabilitates these animals in the hope of finding them new homes and a second chance at a good life. PAWS does not take in pets of other people, but only victims of cruelty or neglect where the animal offenders are charged with violation of the Animal Welfare Act in court.

Apollo was a search and rescue dog who served with the K-9 unit of the New York Police Department. He was awarded the Dickin Medal, the animals' equivalent of the Victoria Cross, in recognition of the work done by all search and rescue dogs following the September 11 attacks. Apollo and his handler were working at the World Trade Center site soon after the attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam (army dog)</span> Army dog

Sam was an army dog who served with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps Dog Unit. While serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, Sam helped to apprehend an armed man and also to hold back an armed mob besieging a compound where Serbs were taking refuge. He received the Dickin Medal, the animals' equivalent of the Victoria Cross, in 2003 for these acts of bravery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen McPartland</span> British politician

Stephen Anthony McPartland is a former British Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Stevenage from 2010 to 2024. He is the author of the McPartland Review into Cyber Security as an enabler of Economic Growth, is a strategic consultant and non-executive specialist in risk, governance, cyber security and digital sustainability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rip (dog)</span> Search-and-rescue dog known for rescuing victims of the Blitz

Rip, a mixed-breed terrier, was a Second World War search and rescue dog who was awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery in 1945. He was found in Poplar, London, in 1940 by an Air Raid warden, and became the service's first search and rescue dog. He is credited with saving the lives of over 100 people. He was the first of twelve Dickin Medal winners to be buried in the PDSA's cemetery in Ilford, Essex.

Buster, an English Springer Spaniel, was a military detection dog who was active during the Iraq War. Because of his actions in discovering a hidden weapons cache, the dog was credited with saving service personnel from insurgents operating in the southern Iraqi town of Safwan. He was awarded the Dickin Medal, referred to as being the animals' Victoria Cross.

Ricky was a dog who received the Dickin Medal in 1947 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.

Sasha DM (2004–2008) was a Labrador Retriever who served as a bomb detection dog for the British Army whilst stationed in Afghanistan. Sasha and her handler, Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe, were killed in July 2008. Sasha was awarded the Dickin Medal, also known as the animals' Victoria Cross, in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucca (dog)</span> War dog

Lucca was a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois service dog who was employed by the United States Marine Corps for 6 years. She was trained to detect explosives. She was deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. In her over 400 missions, no human fatalities occurred under her watch. In 2012, while on patrol in Afghanistan, she was injured by an IED blast, necessitating the amputation of her left leg. After recovering at Camp Pendleton, Lucca officially retired in 2012 and was adopted by her original handler, Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Paws</span> Global animal welfare organisation based in Vienna, Austria

Four Paws is a global animal welfare organisation based in Vienna, Austria. It focuses on improving the living conditions of animals under direct human influence, by revealing suffering, rescuing animals in need, and protecting them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act 2019</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Animal Welfare Act 2019, also known as Finn's law, is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

References

  1. ↑ Note: A litter name is a temporary name that is give a puppy from a litter, to identify which litter it came from. Usually each puppy is given a name with the same first letter as all the others in the litter. For Finn's litter, they all started with the letter "C".
  2. ↑ Wardell, Dave (2018). Fabulous Finn. Quercus. p. 63. ISBN   9781786489067.
  3. 1 2 Elvery, Martin (11 May 2017). "Lewisham teenager found guilty of stabbing police dog Finn and injuring handler PC Dave Wardell in Stevenage". The Comet . Archant Community Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  4. ↑ Polianskya, Alina (28 January 2018). "Police officer describes moment dog fought to protect him despite being stabbed with '10-inch knife'". www.independent.co.uk. Independent Digital News & Media. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  5. ↑ Burchell, Helen (11 May 2017). "Police dog Finn: The attack that almost killed a 'hero'". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  6. ↑ "Stabbed police dog Finn to retire". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  7. ↑ "Police dog Finn stabbing: Boy detained". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  8. ↑ Mohan-Hickson, Matthew (30 November 2017). "Parliament to debate Finn's Law to give extra protection to service animals next week". www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk. Hertfordshire Mercury. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  9. ↑ "Royal Assent: Finn's Law". www.parliament.uk. UK Parliament. April 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  10. ↑ "Police dog Finn's law comes into force". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  11. ↑ "Police dog Finn's law to be implemented in Scotland". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  12. ↑ "Motion: Abuse of Service Animals - Monday 10 February 2020". NI Assembly TV. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  13. ↑ "Stabbed police dog Finn named IFAW 'animal of the year'". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  14. ↑ "PDSA Gold Medal". www.pdsa.org.uk. The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  15. ↑ Winter, Stuart (15 March 2018). "Hero police dog Finn awarded the animals' George Cross for saving handler's life". www.express.co.uk. Express Newspapers. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "Crufts 2019: Stabbed police dog Finn and handler scoop prize". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  17. ↑ Baker, Emily (27 May 2019). "Britain's Got Talent finalist Finn the police dog shares the stage with puppies as Simon gets emotional again". metro.co.uk. Associated Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  18. ↑ "Thin Blue Paw Foundation". Thin Blue Paw Foundation. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  19. ↑ "About Us". Thin Blue Paw Foundation. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  20. ↑ Scotter, Kate (29 July 2023). "'Hero' Hertfordshire police dog Finn dies aged 14". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. Retrieved 29 July 2023.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.