Memorial unveiled for retired Hertfordshire Police dog stabbed in line of duty
Finn - who helped to earn more rights for retired police animals - has been given a statue
A memorial dedicated to a former Hertfordshire Police dog stabbed in the line of duty has been unveiled.
Finn, a German Shepherd, spent seven years working with Hertfordshire Police, as well helping with other forces including Cambridgeshire Police and Bedfordshire Police.
During one instance in 2016, Finn was stabbed twice in the head and chest using a hunting knife after an armed robber lunged at his human partner PC Dave Wardell from the force.
After surviving the incident, Finn would return to active duty before retiring at the age of eight, and going on to have a career in entertainment, starring in Britain's Got Talent.
However, while he maintained a new career, Finn also became the face of a campaign to ensure better treatment for service animals by the law.
In 2019, Finn's Law was passed by MPs and given royal assent, meaning that it is now an offence to attack or injure a service animal, even amid claims of self-defence.
Finn would sadly pass away in July of 2023 at the age of 14, sparking calls for a statue to honour the dog's legacy.
A fundraiser to commission a statue in Finn's honour raised a total of £49,000 in just a few days, and the final product was released in a ceremony in Layston Gardens in Buntingford on Sunday (July 27th), two years on from his passing.
The sculpture was designed by local artist Suzie Marsh, and will be left in Layston Gardens, as the park was a particular favourite spot for Finn.
As well as this, a total of £29,000 was leftover as a result of the costs for commissioning the statue, which have since been donated to the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, a charity that helps to call for better treatment of service animals.