Police dogs to be paid pension

A UK police force has become the first in the country to offer pensions for retired police dogs.
Crime-fighting canines will be rewarded with up to £1,500 each under the Nottinghamshire Police scheme.


Previously, ex-police dogs received no contributions towards their upkeep and would be kept by their handlers as pets or rehomed.

The payouts will cover treatments for the highly-trained animals, including vet’s bills, worming, vaccinations and kennel fees.
Notts. Police say they will pay a maximum of £500 per year for three years to cover the upkeep of retired animals.

However the plans, which will be rolled out next month, have met with criticism from campaigners who say the money, which will total around £39,000 for the force’s 26 police dogs, is a rough deal for taxpayers.

Six dogs retire from the police force every year after a career sniffing out drugs, bombs and searching properties

Asked what he made of such comments, Paddy Tipping, Police and Crime Commissioner for Notts. Police, said: 'I guess the criticism is, "well hang on a minute, we should spend the money elsewhere". Well, you’ve got to make judgments about priorities.'
He added: 'We look after the people who work for us who have been police officers and staff - they get a decent retirement and I think it’s important the same is done for the dogs.
'These animals work hard for the police and they are officers in their own right.
'Many of the force’s dogs are fit and healthy when they retire but some need medical treatment for injury or illness resulting from being worked hard while tackling crime.
'These dogs give willing and sterling service over the years in protecting the public so I am delighted to approve a scheme that will ensure continuing medical help once their work is done.'
Handler PC Matt Rogers believes his dog Rossi may have saved his life in a terrifying incident last November.
The eight-year-old Belgian shepherd/malinois cross leapt 8ft into the air to grab an axe from the hand of a man as PC Rogers tried to arrest him in Boughton.
Rossi is expected to retire in the next 12 months or so after spending most of his life working for Notts Police and helping to make 'many hundreds' of arrests.
PC Rogers said: 'I’m really pleased and I think it’s only right. As an organisation that works with animals we need to set an example.

'With Rossi by my side while I’m tackling a suspect I almost can’t miss. I love him to bits, he looks after me.'

Around six police dogs retire every year after spending their lives assisting with arrests, crowd control, sniffing out drugs and searching properties.
Mr Tipping said: 'Let’s be clear about it, if the officers didn’t look after the dogs when they retire from the force they would be put down.
'The police officers have become very fond of the dogs, they keep the dogs, and I don’t think it’s fair that they have to pay all the bills.'
Notts Police is the first force to offer an ‘in-house’ pension scheme for its retired canine officers.
In 2009, Cambridgeshire Police announced it had set up a trust to fund a similar retirement plan for its dogs.