A retired police dog handler has accused force bosses of being ‘out of touch’ after a young German Shepherd was put down over a £12,000 vet bill.
Linda McBride was horrified at the death of two and a half year old Zara who was euthanised after a car crash where she broke her pelvis.
The Alsatian had been on a walk with her handler near Inverness when she bolted after a rabbit and was hit by a car.
The accident on December 11 left her with a broken pelvis and she was put to sleep two days later.
A senior force insider told the Sunday Mail Zara’s prognosis was good had she received the operation.
Linda, 57, worked for Police Scotland for more than 30 years and said the decision not to pay for Zara’s surgery could have damaging consequences for serving dog handlers.
She said: “It seems like management making these decisions perhaps don’t quite appreciate what it is like on the ground for these dogs and their handlers.
“They love getting the praise for the dogs’ successes but I think they are out of touch with the work that’s put into the dogs and what an impact it can have for handlers who don’t get the support.”
Linda owns three of her own retired police dogs – Luna, Spud and Saul – and said the bravery of the animals is unlike anything an officer can have.
She said: “It’s not unusual for one dog handler to be covering a full area for example the whole of the east of Scotland. That increases the dog and handler’s chances of injury – they’re dealing with more calls.
“This case is quite concerning because handlers will be thinking when they’re going to call ‘What if something happens to my dog? Are the force going to back me up?’
“ Police dogs are so dynamic, they face often dangerous scenarios and it’s important that management give handlers and dogs their full, backing, support and veterinary care. It’s absolutely vital.”
She is backing calls from charity the Thin Blue Paw Foundation for a full investigation into PD Zara’s death.
The organisation’s chairman Kieran Stanbridge wrote directly to Chief Constable Jo Farrell about the case last week,
Police Scotland said: “Our dog branch plays a crucial role across Scotland in keeping people safe and we cannot overstate the value that these highly skilled animals bring to policing.
“Dogs and handlers get full support and the highest veterinary care when injuries or illness occur, and all decisions are made with the welfare and quality of life of the dog at heart.
“They are part of the policing family and any loss of a dog, such as PD Zara, is felt deeply by their colleagues.
“We are listening to the charity’s concerns and will respond to their letter in due course.”
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