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Police dog Finn gets gold medal for bravery
“He is my best friend and I owe him my life.”

Dog honoured for protecting his handler despite serious injuries 

A police dog that was almost fatally stabbed on duty has been awarded the PDSA’s gold medal, also known as the animal’s George Cross.

Police dog Finn, who is now retired from duty, protected his handler from harm despite being seriously injured.

His story has inspired a campaign for change, Finn’s Law, which calls for greater protection for police dogs and tougher sanctions on those who attack them.

Finn’s attack took place on 5 October, 2016, when he and his handler PC Dave Wardell were called to an address in Stevenage. The dog unit was instructed to give chase to a suspect who was evading arrest.

During the pursuit, the suspect attempted to jump over a fence but Finn foiled his escape by taking hold of his leg.

PC Wardell explains: “In a split second, I saw the man lunge at Finn’s side with a weapon. As he pulled away, I saw a 10-inch blade, covered in Finn’s blood.

“The man then lunged at me with the blade but Finn, despite being seriously hurt, grabbed hold of the suspect and stopped him from landing a fatal blow. My hand was cut in the struggle and Finn’s head was sliced open.

“Despite suffering two serious stab wounds, Finn’s grip on the suspect remained - pulling at the suspect’s leg to stop him from jumping the fence.”

As a result of Finn’s actions, PC Wardle was able to wrestle the assailant to the ground, where he finally dropped the weapon. Other officers arrived at the scene and Finn was rushed to the nearest veterinary practice for life-saving treatment. Miraculously, he recovered and was back on duty 11 weeks later. PC Wardell also needed treatment for a stab wound to his hand.

Finn will receive his award on 6 May at the PDSA’s PetLife ’18 festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. It is the first time an award of this kind has been presented publicly.

“I am bursting with pride that Finn is receiving this award – he is a true gem and embodies everything that is special about police dogs in this country,” PC Wardell commented. “He is my best friend and I owe him my life.”

Chief Constable Charlie Hall, who nominated Finn for the award, alongside the police and crime commissioner, added: “Our Police Dog teams perform outstanding work and are a great source of pride for the Force.

"Finn’s story highlights the vital role that these animals play in our society and the dangers that our officers face on a daily basis. I am thrilled that Finn’s actions are being recognised.”

Image © PDSA

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.