Lifelong care for retired police dogs campaign launched

The Thin Blue Paw Foundation is calling for Government-backed "doggy pensions" to cover medical and care costs for police dogs after they leave service.

The charity supports retired police dogs across the UK and has provided more than £380,000 in grants since August 2020 for surgeries, medication, and therapy.

Kieran Stanbridge, chairman of the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, said: "Police dogs give the best years of their lives to the job.

Ted’s final years inspire call for police dog pensions (Image: Thin Blue Paw Foundation) "They throw themselves into dangerous situations without a second thought, they show unwavering loyalty to their handler and their job, and they give so much to help fight crime and keep the public safe.

"During their careers they receive the very best care and support from the force they serve with but, as soon as they hang up their harness, they’re on their own, and the responsibility for their often-expensive care falls to their ex-handler or new owner.

"We believe that the Home Office who allocate funding to police forces nationally have an ethical and moral obligation to these dogs and shouldn’t turn their backs on them when it’s time to pay them back for everything they’ve done.

"That’s why we’ve launched our campaign today calling on the Government to introduce measures that ensure all retired police dogs receive support – or doggy pensions – when they retire."

The story of Ted, a former Ministry of Defence Police sniffer dog, sheds light on the importance of support after service.

Ted, who worked at HMNB Portsmouth, retired at eight due to hip dysplasia and died in April 2025, aged 11, after he was diagnosed with cancer in December 2023.

The foundation supported his owner, fellow police officer Sophie Ray from Hampshire, with costs for diagnostic tests and pain relief.

Sophie said the foundation helped her significantly, adding: "I will forever be grateful to the charity for helping Ted have longer to wag his tail and be with me."

There are around 1,700 serving police dogs across the UK’s 45 police forces, with an estimated 100 retiring each year.