UK's bravest police dogs honoured at ceremony in Hertfordshire
The second annual Thin Blue Paw Awards are being held at Knebworth House tonight
The UK’s bravest police dogs and most committed crime-fighters are being honoured at an awards ceremony tonight at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire.
Unsung canine heroes and dedicated police officers are coming together for the second annual Thin Blue Paw Awards, organised by UK charity the Thin Blue Paw Foundation and supported by Animal Friends Insurance.
The winners include:
Lifetime Achievement: RPD Logan and PC Ian Sweeney, Humberside Police
PC Ian Sweeney and his retired police dog, German Shepherd Logan, received the accolade after working together to keep the streets of Lincolnshire safe for over seven years. RPD Logan completed his training in a very quick eight weeks and went on to secure incredible arrests, save countless lives, and help keep his community safe. He received numerous awards and never missed a day’s work, even after being shot three times in the head while protecting PC Sweeney and detaining three dangerous armed criminals in 2018.
Outstanding Bravery: PD Astro and PC Grace Feavyour, Leicestershire Police
PD Astro showed true bravery and loyalty to his handler, PC Grace Feavyour, when he jumped to defend her during a confrontational arrest in 2021. The Leicestershire Police German Shepherd leapt into action when a man who was being detained turned on the young officer; as he protected his colleague, PD Astro was injured but was not deterred from helping to restrain the culprit.
Lifesaver: RPD Luna and PC Linda McBride, Police Scotland
RPD Luna and PC Linda McBride saved 38 lives during their eight-year career together. The German Shepherd had a natural ability for tracking, particularly high-risk missing people, and helped to lead officers and first-aid responders to vulnerable people across Scotland such as elderly dementia victims who became lost in the dark, suicidal individuals who needed urgent help, and even kidnapping victims.
Crimefighting Duo: PD Toro and PC Chris McDonough, Cheshire & North Wales Police
Cheshire’s PD Toro and PC Chris McDonough were named as the nation’s top Crimefighting Duo. It’s the second year running that the crime fighting duo award has gone to the Cheshire and North Wales joint dog unit, after PD Bart and PC Kelly Walker took home the inaugural award in 2021. PC McDonough, from Merseyside, and Dutch Herder PD Toro have shown themselves to be a ‘formidable crimefighting duo’ in just two-and-a-half-years working together with huge success – particularly in tracking – and many arrests.
Rising star: PD Eddie and PC Andrew Kenyon, Greater Manchester Police
PD Eddie and PC Andrew Kenyon – who followed in his father’s footsteps to be a police dog handler – received the ‘Rising Star’ award after showing their natural talent and commitment to duty in their first 18 months on the streets of Greater Manchester. In that time, they’ve had more than 60 arrests and assisted on serious jobs, such as protecting a colleague who was being attacked with a crowbar and catching dangerous criminals.