A new law could be coming in force after a hero police Hertfordshire could soon become a law.
https://twitter.com/oliverhealduk/status/1113462449146093568?s=21
The Law could be amended under the Animal Welfare Bill known as Finn’s Law has now passed it’s third reading in the House Of Lords.
It will now head for royal assent.
https://twitter.com/k9finn/status/1113110145469382656?s=21
Finn is credited with saving the life of Pc Dave Wardell when a robbery suspect in Stevenage turned on them with a knife in 2016.
One thing parliament has got right 👍🏼 Well done all #FinnsLaw 🐕 🐾 #police
— Mike Pannett, Author, TV Doc-Drama Consultant🇬🇧 (@MikePannett) April 2, 2019
The dog suffered serious stab wounds to the chest and head, but did not let go until back-up arrived, and he was initially thought unlikely to survive.
I had the poignant privilege of watching #FinnsLaw marched and delivered ready for Royal Assent. @OliverHealdUK delivered the motion that the Bill is to proceed for Royal Assent. I had to ensure that the official returned empty handed. pic.twitter.com/3gSgneRjqb
— Sarah Dixon (@SiDix67) April 2, 2019
However, only criminal damage charges could be brought against the accused over the injuries to Finn.
Finn’s Law closes a loophole which means service animals, including police dogs and horses, are treated as force property.
A great day for the #FinnsLaw campaign – congratulations to @K9Finn @finnforchange @OliverHealdUK for getting it this far – a nice message here from PC Dave Wardell for @bobfm Listeners too! pic.twitter.com/4NhGgAOmf0
— Chris Hubbard (@mrchrishubbard) April 2, 2019
Conservative peer Viscount Trenchard, who took the backbench bill through the upper chamber, said: “The Bill will make it easier to prosecute people who are suspected of causing unnecessary suffering to service animals, chiefly police dogs and horses, and dogs working for the Prison Service.”