Almost £50,000 raised to commemorate Finn.

The Thin Blue Paw Foundation’s fundraising appeal to pay for a statue of retired police dog Finn has beaten its target.

Finn, a German Shepherd who in 2016 was stabbed while protecting his handler during a police chase, passed away in his sleep on 27 July 2023 at the age of 14.

As well his heroic actions in the line of duty, from which he made a full recovery despite the life-threatening nature of his injuries, Finn also became known for his role in the campaign to strengthen the law to give greater protection to service animals.

The campaign resulted in the passing of the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill, nicknamed ‘Finn’s Law’, which makes it harder for those who attack or injure service animals to claim self-defence.

The Thin Blue Paw Foundation was hoping to raise £40,000 to pay for a statue of Finn, but this target has already been beaten, with far more than £49,000 (including Gift Aid) donated so far.

As well as commemorating Finn, the planned memorial will now also include plaques with the names of other UK police dogs. Work is ongoing to design the statue and decide where it will be placed.

PC Dave Wardell, Finn’s handler, said: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Since Finn passed I have been completely lost and struggling to cope. The thought of finding a way to help keep Finn’s legacy and story alive has kept me going.

“I want to give a huge thank you to the Thin Blue Paw Foundation for their help in making this dream come true. Finn’s story is incredible. He is one in a billion. His story and his legacy deserve to live on beyond my years.

“I hope Finn’s memorial brings people comfort and pleasure for many generations. Let’s keep his legacy alive."

Image (C) The Thin Blue Paw Foundation