Today, The Environment Secretary has announced support for Finn’s Law, to provide more protection for the brave police service animals who protect us. We are continuing to raise the bar on animal welfare, whether it be for our beloved pets, brave service animals or on farms.
Courageous service animals such as police dogs and horses will be offered greater protection under a new law being backed by Government.
The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill has been published in Parliament by Sir Oliver Heald MP and is scheduled for its second reading today (Friday 15 June).
It relates to the prominent Finn’s Law campaign, named after the police dog which was stabbed whilst pursuing a suspect with his handler PC David Wardell.
The proposed legislation will remove a section of the current law of self-defence, often used by those who harm a service animal.
This change, coupled with the government’s plans to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty offences to five years in prison, will make sure those who harm service animals are punished accordingly.
