Those incredibly 'unreliable' DOGS............again!

Missing People Charity




I wonder how Ms Healy, the Missing Persons Charity ambassador, feels about this.

https://www.policeprofessional.com/news/first-charge-under-finns-law/

First charge under Finn’s law

A man has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a police dog under new legislation in the UK.

Jul 3, 2019

By Tony Thompson


Police Dog Audi

Dan O’Sullivan, 29, is the first person to be charged under the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill 2019 since the legislation, known as Finn’s Law, came into force last month. It prevents those who attack or injure service animals from claiming self-defence.

Police Dog Audi suffered a stab wound to his head in the Hanley area of Stoke-on-Trent on Monday afternoon.
O’Sullivan, who is from Liverpool, has been charged with five counts of assaulting police officers, causing unnecessary suffering to an emergency service animal, possession of offensive weapons and affray.

He is due to appear at Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates’ Court later today (July 3).

Detective Inspector Stephen Ward of Staffordshire Police said the police dog was “recovering” and that “his injuries seem to be soft tissue-related and he is likely to be out of action for a short time.”

The law is named after Finn, a police dog which was stabbed in 2016 while pursuing a suspect with his handler PC David Wardell. Finn sustained serious stab wounds to the chest and head, but only criminal damage charges could be brought against his attacker.

This new legislation, coupled with the Government’s plans to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty offences to five years in prison, is designed to ensure those who harm service animals are punished accordingly.

https://www.policeprofessional.com/news/man-jailed-after-biting-police-dogs-ear/




Man jailed after biting police dog's ear

A vicious thug who smashed a police officer and his dog in the face with a metal bar before sinking his teeth into the animal’s ear has been jailed for two years.

Jul 12, 2019



PD Remo receiving root canal treatment and the wound to his ear after being bitten by O'Neill.
Jamie O’Neill appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Friday where he was told he will also be supervised for 12 months following his release from prison.
The 33-year-old previously admitted attacking Police Constable Paul O’Donnell and police dog Remo with the offensive weapon after he was pursued by the duo in Ayrshire on March 26 this year.
O’Neill, who is originally from the Brighton area of England, was running from officers after assaulting his former partner and throwing a brick through the window of a property.
After being caught at the Nethermains Industrial Estate in Kilwinning, O’Neill launched his violent attack which left the officer needing hospital treatment.
Police dog Remo, a five-year-old Belgian Malinois cross, had to undergo root canal surgery on his canine tooth which was eventually capped with a £4,000 titanium implant.
The brave hound also had stitches put in his ear after O’Neill ripped a chunk out of it with his teeth.
The court was told that O’Neill had been in and out of prison since he was 16-years-old and had moved to Scotland to “get a break” from his peer group in England.
His defence solicitor, Mr Connolly, added: “Valium was at the background of this offending behaviour on this particular date.”
The lawyer said his client, who is said to be “extremely ashamed” of his “impulsive and reckless behaviour”, plans to move back to Brighton following his release from prison.

PC O’Donnell with his pet Spaniel and PD Remo (right)
 
Speaking about the horrifying  incident, PC O’Donnell, 42, said: “I found O’Neill and he was shouting and bawling before trying to make off through the bushes.
“I sent Remo to stop him and when he was only about 10ft away Remo jumped for him.
“O’Neill had a metal bar behind his back and he’s swung it round and smashed Remo in the face which did all the damage.
“Remo then kind of backed off and started barking. I’ve then put hands on O’Neill to try and detain him, he started fighting with me and Remo has seen this and grabbed him by the calf.
“O’Neill then just folded over, grabbed hold of Remo’s head and sunk his teeth into the dog’s ear.
“But the reality is that if you bite a police dog, all that’s going to happen is he’s going to bite you even harder.”
The dog handler continued: “The damage was a bad wound to the centre of his ear and at the edge of the ear, a nick was taken out of it where the guy’s tooth has ripped a part of it off.
“All I could I see was the blood pouring out of Remo’s ear. At first, I didn’t know I had been hit in the face with the bar.
“A traffic cop that was following me told me to put my hand to my face and there was blood pouring down my face.
“Because of the adrenaline and worrying about Remo, I just didn’t realise.”
Remo lost about a third of his tooth during the incident. The vet performed root canal surgery on the remaining tooth to save it and then tapered it down to fit the titanium crown.
Paying tribute to his four-legged comrade, PC O’Donnell said: “He’s a great dog.
“Say if we go to meet someone, he’ll be lying on his back getting his belly rubbed. He’s the friendliest dog you’ll ever meet.
“But what people forget is that when he goes into work mode, he’s an absolute machine.
“To me, he’s perfect. He’s a great dog to have about and I obviously know he has my back.”

The nose knows indeed

Isn't that right Gerry?
Ah, forgot, no point asking you.

Police dog that ignored knife wounds to secure arrest given bravery award

   
Bacca and his handler retired PC Mike Davey Photo: PDSA/PA

A police dog repeatedly slashed with a knife as he twice brought an armed assailant to the ground has been honoured with a prestigious award for bravery.
Bacca is being presented with the PDSA’s Gold Medal – which the charity regards as the animal equivalent of the George Cross – in a ceremony at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday.
The now retired West Mercia Police dog sustained multiple injuries as he continued to tackle a man armed with a 10-inch knife, even after his handler, PC Mike Davey, had been stabbed.
PC Davey, who has also now retired from the force, was hurt while responding to reports of a man acting in a violent and unpredictable manner in Bromyard, Herefordshire, in the early hours of June 6, 2018.
Sorry, this content isn't available on your device.

A year on from the incident and I am still in awe of his actions that night. He was attacked, repeatedly, and seriously injured, yet he continued to do his job

PC Davey  

Acting to protect several bystanders, PC Davey released Bacca in an attempt to disarm the man, who was seen to harm himself.
But the male immediately attacked Bacca with the knife, slashing and hacking at his head. Officers then used a spray in an attempt to incapacitate the suspect, but it had no effect.
Both PC Davey and Bacca then received several knife wounds before the man managed to break free and run down an alleyway.
The pair gave chase and Bacca wrestled the attacker to the ground, incurring further stab wounds in the process.
Again, the suspect freed himself but Bacca caught him once more and managed to hold him until he could be handcuffed.

Bacca needed emergency veterinary treatment for his injuries.
PC Davey, who also required medical attention to a deep wound on his hand, said: “Seeing Bacca recognised with such a prestigious award is truly fantastic.
“A year on from the incident and I am still in awe of his actions that night. He was attacked, repeatedly, and seriously injured, yet he continued to do his job.
“To me it highlights what a truly remarkable police dog he was throughout his career.
“He was there when I needed him – as he was for the eight years we worked together, and still is now in retirement – and I have no doubt that he saved my life that night.”
Commenting on the award, PDSA director of veterinary services, Richard Hooker, said: “Bacca’s unstinting devotion to duty and determination to protect his handler, despite sustaining serious injuries, makes him a worthy recipient of the PDSA Gold Medal.
“The PDSA Animal Awards programme seeks to raise the status of animals in society and honour the incredible contribution they make to our lives. Bacca’s heroics are an extraordinary example of this and his bravery deserves the highest possible recognition.

“We are also thrilled that the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act, widely known as Finns Law, after a fellow PDSA Gold Medal recipient, recently came into force.
“This gives greater protection to service animals like Bacca, who are deliberately attacked or injured in the line of duty.”
A man charged in connection with the incident later died before he was due to stand trial.
The West Mercia Police Federation has previously praised Bacca’s bravery and determination to protect the public.


https://www.itv.com/news/2019-07-26/police-dog-that-ignored-knife-wounds-to-secure-arrest-given-bravery-award/

Man, 29, first to be jailed under Finn's law after STABBING police dog in head twice in Hanley street attack

A man has been jailed under a new law after stabbing a police dog during a street attack in Stoke-on-Trent.
Dan O'Sullivan was locked up for 21 months this morning after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to PD Audi under Finn's Law.
PD Audi suffered two stab wounds to his head during the shocking incident in Town Road, Hanley.
A colleague was also injured as they tried to assist.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard PD Audi and his handler PC  Karl Mander had been called to reports of a man with a knife in Town Road at 2.15pm on July 1 when the incident happened.
When they arrived, O’Sullivan was found holding a glass bottle in one hand and a knife in the other and threatened to stab them if approached.

When O'Sullivan refused to comply with further instructions to put down the knife, PC Mander sent in PD Audi. 


Daniel O'Sullivan


The dog was stabbed twice in the head and had to receive emergency medical treatment.
Another officer, who arrived at the scene, was kicked in the face and head and had a bottle thrown at him by O’Sullivan.
O'Sullivan was taken by ambulance to the Royal Stoke University Hospital for assessment and while there, he became aggressive and unpredictable toward hospital staff and also spat at four officers and kicked one of them to the head.
Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Stephen Ward, from CID, said: “O'Sullivan presented a significant danger to anyone who was nearby and we cannot allow the public to be put at risk.
"He assaulted five officers, spitting at four of them, which is a degrading experience for the officers concerned and can present a health risk.

“O'Sullivan was out to seriously hurt PD Audi and it was lucky that he wasn't blinded or killed as a result of his injuries.
"Aside from the sheer cruelty of his actions, it takes a great deal of time, energy and expense to train a police dog and an experience like that could have ended his career. Fortunately, Audi has recovered well and is back at work.”



Police Dog Audi and handler PC Karl Mander  (Image: Staffordshire Police)

O'Sullivan, aged 29, of Bowland Drive, Liverpool, was the first person to be charged under the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act 2019 since Finn's Law was introduced.
He also pleaded guilty to five charges of assaulting police officers and two of possession of offensive weapons but pleaded not guilty to affray when he appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
O’Sullivan was sentenced to a total of 21 months, with three months to be served for injuring a police dog.

PD Audi has since returned to work.
His handler PC Mander has previously thanked everyone for the messages of support and presents sent to the heroic hound.
He said: "Fortunately, Audi hasn't taken as long to recover from his injury as we at first feared. He's had lots of rest and TLC and luckily he has recovered well and there doesn't seem to be any lasting damage to him.


PD Audi  (Image: Staffordshire Police)

"I have to say, we were really touched by the cards and get well messages people sent to Audi. He was even sent a couple of hampers and some lovely hand made cards, too.
"I think it shows that the public values the work our police dogs do. We'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who sent something to Audi, it really was appreciated."
Early in June The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill came into force - preventing those who attack or injured service animals from claiming defence.

The legislation is known as 'Finn's Law' after Finn, a police dog that was stabbed in 2016 while pursuing a suspect in Stevenage in Hertfordshire. 

Due to the legislation that was in place at the time the attacker could only be charged with criminal damage for the injuries he caused to the animal. The maximum sentence is currently six months.

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/man-29-first-jailed-under-3175132?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

I love your avatar chaithedog - reminds me of Boris Johnson's first days at No. 10.

Or perhaps another situation ....

Sorry, I digress.

It makes a lovely change to see a man saving a dog rather than the other way around:



A DOG on the verge of death was the last ‘resident’ of a Gran Canaria village to be evacuated as flames from the blaze that scorched 12,000 hectares approached.

More than 8,000 people had been ordered from their homes at the height of the disaster, which has now been controlled by 500 firefighters.

But in one village in the mountains the dog had got left behind.

Disorientated and lost and suffering from dehydration, the animal was listless and appeared resigned to its fate when two Guardia Civil Seprona (Nature division) officers came across it.

They had been doing an inspection in Cruz de Tejada looking for stragglers when they came across the pooch.

Little by little they fed him water from their cupped hands until he was revived and felt better. They then put him in the car and drove him to safety.

As he is not microchipped the dog has been taken to an animal shelter until his owner comes forward to claim him.

Video on this link:
https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2019/08/22/watch-a-dogs-best-friend-is-man-spanish-police-rescue-pooch-on-the-verge-of-death/

Today, 26th August, is International Dog Day .

Learn about Dog Day

No one can win hearts like man’s best friend and in honour of this bond between man and canine, Dog Day is celebrated.
Take time to appreciate the love and value that dogs bring to our daily lives, and to do your bit for homeless and abused dogs the world over. From keeping us safe working for the emergency services to supporting people who are blind, deaf or disabled, dogs do a lot for us humans, and this is an opportunity to give something back.

Recommendations for ways to celebrate Dog Day range from adopting a dog from a rescue home to giving your dog a holistic spa treatment or even buying yourself and your dog matching t-shirts.

The National Dog Day Foundation supports all breeds and varieties of dogs and discourages purchasing from unethical backyard breeders and puppy mills; instead, support reputable breeders or adopt from rescue homes.


Dog Day has been supported by such high profile individuals as former US President George W Bush whose own dog, Barney the Scottish terrier has his own website and has even starred in a series of short films. So celebrate dogs and their varied talents today, both by taking the time to treat the dogs in your own life and by supporting dogs in need.

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/dog-day/

Ministry of Defence Police Dogs

International Dog Day: Simba the London Fire Brigade dog hailed for bringing murderers to justice

Harriet Brewis
2 hours ago



London Fire Brigade (LFB) has paid tribute to its fire dogs for International Dog Day, revealing how one of its pups has “helped bring murderers to justice.”

Simba, a two-year-old springer spaniel, was vital to investigations of a south-east London house fire which saw an innocent mother-of-two killed last year.

Fire investigators determined the blaze in Woolwich to be suspicious, so deployed Simba to help figure out where it had started and whether an accelerant had been used to speed up the flames.

Fire investigator Anton Keach, Simba’s handler, said: “Within a matter of seconds of getting to the gatepost, which was about three metres down the path from the front door, Simba indicated that there was something there.

“Without Simba’s keen sense of smell, it would have taken fire investigators a lot longer to identify the areas where the accelerant was found. Some of the things that Simba found may not have even registered using the equipment available to fire investigators.”

The two-year-old is trained to sniff out a number of accelerants, including petrol – whether it’s burnt, evaporated or neat.

Simba successfully indicated multiple points where accelerant was found at the address in Centurion Square, Woolwich, following the fatal fire at around 1.20am on September 6, 2018.

The victim, 43-year-old Memunatu Warne from Sierra Leone, had been visiting family when the fire was started deliberately.

She was found dead at the scene by crews wearing breathing apparatus, after eight fire engines and 60 firefighters attended the scene.

Last month, Elliott Robinson and William Smith were both sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum terms of 31 years and 32 years respectively for her murder.

The two men, both drug dealers, torched the property mistakenly believing one of their competitors was inside.



“On International Dog Day (August 26), we are highlighting how important the work of our fire dogs is and how valuable an asset they are to the Brigade,” it wrote.

“Our fire dogs are used for a range of roles including community events and school visits, but their day job is to help investigate serious fires and gather evidence. Their important work has resulted in convictions.”

This year, the Brigade’s two fire investigation dogs, Simba and six-year-old cocker spaniel Sherlock, have searched 41 different fire scenes and in 20 of these cases have identified one of their target substances.

LBC added: “The dogs’ sense of smell is so accurate that in the cases where they did not find anything, there was almost certainly nothing for them to find.”

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/international-dog-day-simba-the-london-fire-brigade-dog-hailed-for-bringing-murderers-to-justice-a4221376.html

Bring in....the bees!

'Sniffer bees' are being trained to seek out landmines from TWO KILOMETRES away as scientists trick them to think the scent of explosives is nectar

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7414275/Sniffer-bees-trained-seek-landmines-TWO-KILOMETRES-away.html

I love looking at all the Police Dogs on twitter...what an attitude they've got!

Fabulous Finn
@K9Finn

This time 3 years ago my life was turned upside down & my best friends life hung in the balance.
I used to think it was because of a decision I made. I now know that it was because of a bad decision a young man made.
#PoliceDogsAreVital #MoreDogsNeeded

https://twitter.com/K9Finn/status/1180276541739147267

PD Finn saved his handlers life that night, and nearly lost his own.

A highly trained and loyal dog my hat goes off to this brave dog.

They say get straight back on the horse - sometimes that's just not a reality.

When my Shuba died during the 1970's heatwave, it took me years before I could contemplate another.  Even then my new found baby I rescued from certain death, I couldn't possibly not take her in.  Truth be known, I stole her from her evil owner and stuck two fingers up at right of ownership!

She was my love for the next sixteen years.

I'm a heap of sobbing mush. Damn.

Highlighted on Textusa blog.
 
 
Handler testifies that dog smelled human remains in homicide suspect Jason Sypher's house
 
Karen Madden  Stevens Point Journal
Published 5:59 PM EDT Oct 18, 2019

STEVENS POINT - A dog trained to detect the smell decomposing human remains provided definite indications of a dead body having been in the home and pickup of a man charged with killing his wife, the dog's handler said during testimony Friday. 
Madison Police Officer Jason Baumgart and his cadaver dog, Crosby, searched Jason Sypher's Hoffman Drive home on March 31, 2017. Baumgart has been training Crosby to recognize the smell of human remains since 2014 and received certification from the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association in 2017, Baumgart said during the fifth day of the Jason Sypher homicide trial. 
Jason Sypher, 44, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide of and hiding the corpse of Krista Sypher, 44. Krista Sypher's remains have not yet been found. Krista Sypher was last seen March 13, 2017, and Jason Sypher reported her missing March 20, 2017. 
Baumgart said Crosby is 97 percent accurate. The team is part of Canine Search Solutions, a nonprofit search group headed by a Madison police officer. 
Baumgart said he let Crosby explore the Sypher home for a few minutes the day of the search on March 31, 2017. Baumgart then put Crosby back on his leash, and let the dog lead him through the home, Baumgart said. 
Crosby took Baumgart to the kitchen and sniffed some duffel bags on the kitchen counter, Baumgart said, and didn't indicate the smell of human remains on the bags. The dog next took Baumgart up the home's stairs to the second-floor master bedroom, Baumgart said.
The dog went to the bedroom closet and alerted Baumgart to the smell of human remains on some bags there, Baumgart said. Crosby then went to the other end of the closet and jumped up on his hind legs to try to get a closer sniff of clothes, Baumgart said. The dog gave his formal indication of sitting down, which means he smelled decomposing human remains on the clothes.
The dog then left the closet and took Baumgart to the bed, where Crosby jumped on top of the comforter. Crosby began circling on the comforter and then digging, Baumgart said. Baumgart said he's seen the same behavior from his dog when training using buried training material, where Crosby will try to dig down to the source of the smell and then lie on top of it. Crosby laid down on the bed and indicated the smell of human remains, Baumgart said. 
Baumgart led Crosby around the rest of the bedroom, but the dog didn't indicate any more scents. Baumgart next took the dog to the bathroom and Crosby immediately jumped into the bathtub and started circling in the tub. The dog went to the shower drain and stuck his nose into the drain. Crosby then indicated smelling human remains, Baumgart said.
The final place in the home where Crosby indicated smelling human remains was at the kitchen sink, Baumgart said, where the dog indicated the smell of decomposing human remains under the sink in an area that held cleaning materials. Often, someone who commits a homicide will try to clean up the scene, and finding the scent of human remains on cleaning supplies is expected, Baumgart said. 
Crosby signaled that he smelled human remains in the back of Jason Sypher's F150 pickup, Baumgart said. Crosby also indicated on the driver's seat inside the truck's cab.
Police have never found any of Krista Sypher's remains.

Baumgart responded to criticisms of his work from defense witness, Andy Falco Jimenez. Jimenez, who has written books on dogs trained to find scents, said during testimony Thursday that a trained dog always will indicate on scents like skin cells, scabs or blood in homes. Baumgart said cadaver dogs are trained not to indicate on those things, because it would make them useless. 


Defense Attorney Gary Kryshak put Jason Sypher's former wife, Tammy Sypher, on the stand Friday afternoon. In her brief appearance, Tammy Sypher said her former husband liked to drink and could get angry when he drank, but he never hit her. 

Published 5:59 PM EDT Oct 18, 2019
 
https://eu.stevenspointjournal.com/story/news/2019/10/18/jason-sypher-trial-dog-handler-says-dog-smelled-human-remains/4011367002/
 
…………………………………….
 
Andy Jimenez, hopefully no relation to Antonio/Metodo 3?

Here's the dog that chased ISIS leader Baghdadi down a tunnel, leading him to blow himself up.

The dog was injured in the blast, but has now recovered and returned to the line of duty.

HUGE respect to all military and police dogs

21 gun salute and a hero's return!

Clever doggy!

Well done, dog, I'm very pleased you are ok.