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 government.

Heidi 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 grounds.

Donna, 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 treatment.

Charity 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 persons.

Mrs 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 bills.

German 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 bodies.

In 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 bills.

Mrs 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.

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