The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill has passed its final stage in the House of Lords with Lord Trenchard paying tribute to all those involved in the Finn’s Law campaign. The Bill will now become law and is a major step forward in providing protection to service animals, such as police dogs and horses, when they are attacked. As the Bill passed, Finn, who was sitting in the public gallery of the House of Lords, let out a large bark.
Sir Oliver Heald started the process when he was given permission to bring in the Bill in 2017. Commenting, Sir Oliver said “I am delighted that service animals will now have the protection they need and will not simply be treated as property like a police radio. There will now be a proper offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a service animal. I am delighted this has passed and pay tribute to PC Dave Wardell and the Finn’s Law team. Finn has attended every stage of the Bill and has been very well behaved but I think he was entitled to his bark as the Bill passed the House of Lords.”