On 5th October 2016, Police Dog Finn was viciously stabbed on duty with a 10 inch hunting knife while detaining a robbery suspect.

Although Finn had sustained life threatening injuries from the first attack, he bravely dived in front of the second thrust, aimed directly for PC Dave Wardell, his handler and dad.

Finn saved his dad's life. However, the second slash with the knife caused another horrific wound to his head.

Finn had now been brutally stabbed twice and the blood loss was horrific. Finn was now bleeding everywhere from his traumatic wounds, all over Dave’s uniform, and the police car that was racing to the vets on blue lights.

During that terrifying journey to the vets, Finn’s life hung in the balance. After the agonising journey, he was so loyal and protective of his handler Dave, he tried to lick Dave's wounds. Dave had also been stabbed while apprehending the dangerous criminal.

A team of top vets worked through the night, desperately trying to save Finn’s life. It was touch and go. They had to carry out emergency surgery to re-inflate his lungs, which had been punctured 4 times by the knife. The vets had to remove 2 sections of the damaged lung and restructure his muscles, in order to physically stitch him back together again.

Beyond all odds, Finn survived the surgery - just.

During his illustrious 8 year policing career, Finn has directly clocked up 300 arrests and saved the lives of 45 members of the public.

Since the attack, both Dave and Finn have suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Dave has struggled with flashbacks, and Finn has been withdrawn and very reserved. Despite this, their bond is stronger than ever. They have both turned to each other for support, and are inseparable.

After 11 weeks, Finn and Dave were back at work after Finn's miraculous recovery (and yes, Finn even made an arrest on his first shift!). Shortly after, Finn retired from policing, but is now living with Dave at home.

However, it’s not been the happy, peaceful retirement Finn deserves. Finn has struggled with arthritis in his front right leg, directly linked to the stabbing injury. He now limps and Dave is concerned that it’s getting worse.

To help with this, the vets have recommended that Finn needs heat and more swimming, a low impact exercise - luckily something he loves, very closely followed by paddle-boarding and surfing!

PC Dave Wardell recently won the ‘Police Social Media Awards’ for his work in campaigning to change the law to protect serving police dogs, with tougher sentences for animal attackers.

The prize is a trip to Miami to talk at the SMILE (Social Media in Law Enforcement) conference, widely renowned in the policing world. It's a great opportunity to promote Dave's campaign for harsher sentencing on animal attackers.

However, here’s the problem...

Being a police officer, and supporting a wife and 3 children, Dave doesn’t have the money to take Finn. This trip to Miami could be a well-deserved once in a lifetime trip for the Wardell family, but the return trip for Finn is expected to cost £4,500 - something that on police salaries, they sadly can’t afford.

So to help, we're asking for donations to make this trip something the whole family and Finn can remember fondly, after the enormous ordeal they have been through. It's also great for Finn's rehabilitation, and a well-earned retirement trip!

We're asking for your generous donations, to help us support an outstanding and faithful police dog, who has so valiantly served his community and the country.

Any donations are welcome, large or small, to help fund Finn's trip. Please donate what you can. Of course we’ll share all the videos and pictures of the momentous trip, including Finn surfing on the Miami beaches! Who doesn't want to see a police dog surfing?!

Any donations above the cost of Finn's trip will be donated to an animal charity of Dave and Finn's choice.

Thank you so much for all your support, we know it means the world to Dave & Finn 🐾