Police dogs to be given pensions

Police dogs are to be given their own pensions to ensure their medical bills are paid after they retire. Nottinghamshire Police will give dogs up to £1,500 in pensions after saying the animals should be recognized as “officers in their own right.”
When it goes live next month, it will be the first official police dog pension plan in Britain. Every retiring dog will be entitled up to £500 a year for three years towards vet bills for problems picked up on the beat. Between now and March 2016 nine dogs working for the force are expected to retire.

Half of the group are "general purpose" police dogs that help to search for people, chase after and catch crooks and work at public events such as football matches. The other half are specialist search dogs – they are trained in sniffing out drugs, guns, bodies and even cash. Each dog is put through an annual test to ensure they can carry out duties effectively.

If they fail they are retired. Many are then homed with their handlers as pets, some go to firms such as security companies, while a few go to families. Previously, any conditions related to their working lives that needed veterinary treatment had to come out of the owners' pockets. But the force will now pay up to £500 a year for treatment for the first three years after retirement.