Police officer’s fight for new law to honour heroic dog Finn who saved his life in knife attack
Campaigners hope that Finn's Law will be passed to impose more serious penalties on those who attack police dogs and horses
AS he felt the ten-inch hunting knife drive deep into his chest, police dog Finn did not waver.
He was determined to save his master from the attacker, and had no thought for himself.
When the teenager pulled the blade out of the dog’s body and lunged with it towards PC Dave Wardell, Finn yanked the thug by his leg, deflecting the blow.
Instead of striking the policeman, it again hit Finn, this time savagely gashing the German shepherd’s head.
The officer recalls: “He saved my life. This amazing animal nearly paid the ultimate sacrifice to make sure I would live and go home to my family.
“I owe him my life.”
And when back-up arrived and the critically injured Finn was being rushed for treatment, the dog was still only thinking of Dave.
Noticing his master had received a cut to his hand in the attack, Finn, again, did all he could and began licking the wound.
Dave says: “There he is laying on the floor effectively dying and struggling to breathe and yet he was worrying about me.
“It was a very touching moment.”
Against the odds Finn, then eight, survived the knife attack and has been hailed Britain’s bravest police dog for his heroics on that fateful night in October 2016.
Now campaigners hope that Finn’s Law, named in his honour, will soon be passed to impose more serious penalties on those who attack police dogs and horses.
At present, there is not a specific offence for causing injury to a police animal — with attackers only being able to be charged with criminal damage against “property”.
Dave, 41, says: “If the law was passed, it would mean the world to me. It would show the recognition of the job that service animals do.
“Day in, day out, police dogs such as Finn and other service animals do amazing work for all of us.
“And they do it all just for a tickle and a small reward.”
Blood was seeping all down his chest and body
Dave Wardell
Dave, who has three daughters Jaymee, 11, Tia, eight, and India, five, with wife Gemma, had been paired up with Finn since January 2010, when he met the nine-month-old bundle of fur for the first time.
He had just qualified as a dog handler for the Hertfordshire Constabulary and it was love at first sight.
Dave explains: “He was this confident, cheeky dog. I was like a kid in the proverbial sweet shop. All my Christmases had come at once. It was the best feeling in the world.
“I formed an amazingly close bond with him. As a handler, you become the centre of their universe.”
The pair underwent 13 weeks intensive training together and the more time they spent together, the more besotted Dave became.
He admits: “I would even go and sit with him in his kennel after a few beers at the pub just to be with him.
“I wouldn’t say I ignored my three daughters and wife to begin with, but I spent a lot of time with him to gain his trust.
“He was everything I’d hoped for and more. Once all the training fell into place, he was just amazing and we hit the streets.”
Together, the pair took on all sorts of criminals and tracked and subdued 300 offenders.
But their run of luck came to an end on October 5, 2016, during an evening shift in Stevenage.
The pair had been called to an address to find a teenage boy suspected of robbing a cabbie of £120.
When other officers went to the front door, the suspect ran out the back, where Dave and Finn saw him race towards an alleyway.
Dave says: “I kept shouting that I would send the dog unless he stopped in his tracks. But he ignored me.
“He was around 20 metres ahead of us and, at this point, I decided to send Finn to stop him.”
The German shepherd shot off ahead and disappeared around the corner with the suspect.
By the time Dave caught up, the teenager was hiding in a bush.
Dave says: “Suddenly he leapt out and ran towards a fence to jump over it. Finn grabbed him by the leg and pulled him to the ground.
“As I was standing over the lad, he thrust forwards towards Finn’s chest. Only when he fell back on his elbows did I see the knife come out of Finn’s chest.
“I froze as the dog winced. Time just stood still.”
We need more serious penalties for those who attack police dogs and horses
Dave Wardell
It was at this point the suspect lunged at Dave with his knife and quick-thinking Finn tugged at the attacker to deflect the blow. Instead, it just caught Dave on the hand before slicing into Finn again.
The officer says: “It was clear that this man was intent on causing us serious injury.
“Fortunately, backup arrived so we could disarm him and Finn could finally let go. That was when I noticed the blood. Lots and lots of blood. My heart sank.
“It was seeping all down his chest and across his body. Then there was an awful noise when the air rushed through the stab wound into his chest. At that point I knew he was in serious trouble.
“I carried my boy to the van, in a total panic, expecting him to be dead within minutes.”
Astonishingly, as Finn was rushed to the vet in a police van with Dave at his side, he became animated — because of the sirens.
Dave recalls: “Because we had the blue lights on, he was just excited thinking he was going on another job, ignoring the fact that he was bleeding heavily.
“It was not until we were at the emergency vets and we laid him down on the floor that he sort of let go and calmed right down.
“It was then that I could see him fading before my eyes.”
Heroes injured on duty
JUNE 2017: When Alsatian Theo helped capture a man being chased by cops, the suspect tried to bite the police dog’s ear off.
The biter was charged with a public order offence, but never received any charges in relation to his attack on the police pooch in Hyde, Greater Manchester.
Theo had previously been set on fire while helping to catch robbers.
APRIL 2017: Logan the German shepherd was injured when three robbers pelted bricks at him and handler PC Ian Sweeney.
The three were jailed for causing criminal damage to Logan and actual bodily harm to PC Sweeney in Humberston, Lincs.
NOVEMBER 2015: Six horses were hurt by anti-capitalist demonstrators in London. One called Embassy had a firework hurled at him, while another, Illustrious, had a stick poked in his eye.
OCTOBER 2011: A thug repeatedly slammed a door on police dog Zinzan’s head in Edgware, North London.
The attacker was given a 12-month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work.
JULY 1974: PC Don Gordon and his dog Jim were repeatedly stabbed by a man who they caught stealing cable at Grand Terminus Junction, in Glasgow.
The pair survived and both received the Whitbread Shield for their bravery.
The blade had missed Finn’s heart by less than half an inch and punctured a lung. He had to undergo four hours of surgery.
But, miraculously, just days later he was allowed home with Dave, who slept beside the faithful dog on a makeshift bed for three weeks to make sure he was all right.
Reliable to the last, just 11 weeks after the attack Finn was fit and back on the beat. Dave says: “He quickly started becoming the cheeky Finn again during the weeks after.
“He proved himself again on his first night back at work. He did amazingly.”
He loves to curl up in front of the fire
Dave Wardell
The knifeman, who cannot be named as he was only 16 at the time, was last year found guilty of actual bodily harm against Dave and criminal damage to Finn.
He also admitted possession of a knife and an imitation firearm.
He was given a detention training order for eight months, a two-year behaviour order and a £300 fine.
The story inspired animal lovers to launch a campaign for tougher sentences for those who attack service animals, using Finn as their poster boy.
Finn’s Law was due to have its second reading in the House of Commons yesterday, but it has now been postponed until March 16 because one minister wanted more details.
As for Finn, he is now enjoying a quiet life at home with Dave and his family after retiring from police service in March last year.
Dave, who has just released a book about his sidekick, now works with an Alsatian called Hero-Diesel after a French police dog killed in the 2015 Paris terror attacks.
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He says: “It was difficult at first but Finn has been enjoying himself at home.
“He loves to curl up in front of the fire and going for very long walks, and generally being made a fuss of by my three daughters.
“He has become a bit of a doggy celebrity which has been wonderful to see.
“He is simply everything you could ever wish for in a pet.”
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