Finn's story
When Police Dog Finn and his handler, PC Dave Wardell, were called to pursue a suspect in 2016, both of their lives changed.
Finn proved himself to be both brave and loyal when he was attacked by the suspect, apprehending them and protecting his handler who was also injured in the attack. Finn’s heroic actions earned him the PDSA Gold Medal and he and handler PC Wardell have since gone on to change the law!
Watch Finn's story
Video found at youtu.be/DceH_J4u_Dg
While attempting to detain a suspect in 2016, Finn gave chase and was able to foil the suspect's escape.
When his handler PC Wardell joined Finn to help him hold the suspect, things took a turn for the worse. Finn was attacked and seriously wounded with a 10-inch blade.
Despite his wound, Finn was still able to stop the suspect from seriously injuring PC Wardell – receiving another serious wound, this time to his head. Still, he managed to keep his grip on the suspect despite his injuries while PC Wardell was able to wrestle the assailant to the ground and disarm him.
Finn's bravery and dedication not just to his job but also to his handler meant that he needed life-saving surgery and face a long recovery. Despite this, Finn fought on and his determination and loyalty have earned him the PDSA Gold Medal.
Since recovering, Finn and PC Wardell have been campaigning for #Finnslaw, which has changed the laws around service animals to provide greater protection and prosecution powers.