“Fabulous Finn”, the retired police dog who helped introduce greater protection for service animals, has died aged 14.
A spokesman for Finn’s handler Dave Wardell announced “with pain and sadness” that “our beautiful, brave, hero Finn” had died in his sleep on Thursday night (28 July).
Finn and his handler PC Dave Wardell, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, were stabbed by a youth while on duty in October 2016. Dave sustained an injury to his hand and Finn needed emergency life-saving surgery for serious wounds to his chest and head. He recovered and returned to service, retiring in 2017.
Although a 16-year-old was charged with actual bodily harm for stabbing PC Wardell, the attack on Finn was classified criminal damage, and following this Finn became the inspiration behind a new law to protect service animals, including police horses.
The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act, known as Finn’s Law, came into force in June 2019. Under the act, it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a service animal. It also allows, in certain circumstances, to disregard a defendant’s claim that they were protecting themselves and so were justified in using physical force against a service animal, therefore causing it necessary suffering.
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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
