Here at A&T Trained Dogs, we know how effective protection dogs can be in safeguarding your family and your property. However, we hope that they will never need to use their special skills to keep you safe, unlike working dogs who work with the police and other services, such as prisons, airport security and the army. These dogs put their lives on the line week in, and week out, to do their duty and protect their handlers; the law has been changed to offer them some protection in return.
What is Finn’s Law?
The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act 2019, better known as Finn’s Law, came into effect on Saturday 8th June 2019. The law makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a protected animal under the control of a relevant officer. Essentially, it was created with the purpose of making it harder for offenders to claim self-defence when harming working dogs and horses.
What Inspired the Law?
The legislation was inspired by the case of Finn, a police dog that was stabbed whilst pursuing a suspect alongside his handler, PC David Wardell.
During the pursuit, Finn sustained stab wounds to his chest and head. However, only criminal damage charges could be raised against the offender. The online response to photos of his life-threatening injuries prompted the pair to spearhead a campaign to protect not only service animals but all animals.
Why Was the New Law Needed?
Before Finn’s Law was introduced, an attack on a police dog could only be counted as criminal damage.
According to the group campaigning for the law, over 100 on-duty service animals had been injured between 2012 and the law’s introduction.
Alongside the law, the government also planned to increase the maximum prison sentence length for those who cause harm to animals from six months to five years. This was brought into force in June 2021.
Finn’s Law FAQs
Who is Finn?
You may recognise the names PC Wardell and Finn, as they famously reached the finals of Britain’s Got Talent with a magic act that reduced the judges to tears. Finn became the poster dog for an animal welfare campaign after he was involved in an incident with PC Wardell in 2016. While chasing down an attacker, Finn was stabbed in the chest and head. As a result of this attack, he sustained life-threatening injuries; the online response to the photos prompted the start of the campaign for more amendments to the Animal Welfare Act.
An online petition forced a parliamentary debate and the introduction of the new law, as well as a revision in the sentencing guidelines for dealing with attacks on service animals.
What Happened to Finn After the Incident?
Fortunately, Finn made a full recovery and returned to active duty with PC Wardell just eleven weeks later. He even tracked a suspect on his first night back, leading to an arrest.
Finn eventually retired to live with PC Wardell’s family at the age of eight in April 2017; he sadly passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 27th of July 2023. However, his name will live on in the animal protection law he helped to bring about.
Was Finn’s Law Successful?
Following the campaign, Finn’s Law was brought into effect on Saturday 8th June 2019. The first prosecution under the act involved a police dog called Audi, who was attacked and stabbed in the head in Hanley on the 1st of July 2019. The success of the initial campaign even led to further legislation being passed, which is detailed below.
Has Finn’s Law Part 2 Passed?
Finn’s Law Part 2 was successfully passed in June 2021, increasing the sentencing for harm against animals from 6 months to five years. This followed on from the passing of the initial legislation for the protection of service dogs specifically.
You can learn more about living with protection dogs and how they can help you in your daily life here. Get in touch with our friendly team if you have any further questions.
