About time …

"The House of Lords has passed a law giving protection to service dogs and horses after a campaign by the handler of a police dog which was stabbed. German shepherd Finn, who inspired the law, was in the public gallery and barked as the bill was passed. The new legislation, which is awaiting royal assent, means causing unnecessary suffering to a service animal will be an offence in England and Wales.

PC Wardell and Finn were both stabbed while trying to apprehend a man suspected of robbing a taxi driver at gunpoint in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in 2016. Finn was stabbed in the chest and head, but did not let go until reinforcements arrived. He was initially thought unlikely to survive. PC Wardell, who was knifed in the hand, credited Finn for saving his life. But while the suspect was charged with actual bodily harm in relation to wounds to PC Wardell's hand, he faced only criminal damage charges over the injuries to Finn." Full Article HERE

The extent of that dogs' injuries were awful and I was mad that it wasn't law then.  This news is great.

Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act 2019

And how it all came about: Finn's Law