Lady Bathurst, founder of the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals, took time out from her Land’s End to John O’Groats charity cycle, to meet with Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (DPFCC), Mike Johnson, and volunteers from Cumbria’s Animal Welfare scheme to hear about the good work being undertaken by Cumbria’s Benevolent Fund for Police Dogs this week at Cumbria Police headquarters, Carleton Hall in Penrith.
The Officer of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner co-ordinates the Animal Welfare Scheme, were volunteers make regular inspections of the Constabulary’s dog training facilities and accommodation. The scheme ensures Cumbria’s police dogs are properly cared for and receive the highest standards of welfare while serving on behalf of the force.
Lady Bathurst, founder and chairman of the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals, is celebrating the charity’s first year by taking on the challenge of cycling on her e-bike from Land’s End to John O’Groats, a trip of 1,022 miles. Yesterday’s visit was a rest day, having cycled from Kendal to Carlisle Sunday 24 September, and starting the 14th day of her trip, cycling from Carlisle to Biggar, Tuesday 26 September.
DPFCC, Mike Johnson comments: “I really enjoyed meeting Lady Bathurst and learning about the role that Cumbria’s Benevolent Fund for Police Dogs and the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals play in supporting retired police dogs.
“Here in Cumbria, we are fortunate that retiring police dogs are placed in new homes really quickly and can enjoy their twilight years in comfort.
“Our police dogs play a vital role in helping to keep our streets safe and are valued members of Cumbria Constabulary’s Policing team.
“The Animal Welfare Scheme is really important to us and I’m grateful to the volunteers, who are prepared to give up their time to visit our kennels, ensuring that Cumbria Police dogs receive the highest level of care.
“The welfare of our police dogs is a top priority and it’s important to raise awareness of the Cumbria’s Police Dog Pensioners Fund for Police Dogs and the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA), as they raise money to help support the owners of retired service dogs by paying for equipment, food and medical bills.
“Police dogs do an extremely important job in helping to keep us all safe, so it is vital that we do all we can, to help them in their later years, post retirement.”
Sergeant Aidan Bew, Cumbria Constabulary Dog Section, said: “I would like to thank the OPFCC’s Animal Welfare Scheme Volunteers for their help, support, and dedication to the wellbeing of our dogs and officers,
“It’s been great to spend time with Lady Bathurst and wish her well on the rest of her fundraising efforts.
“Our police dogs are an extremely valuable part of our wider policing team. They can be sent to many types of incidents in support of officers and can often bring about a positive result which may not necessarily have been the case if they weren’t available.
“They can search both properties and areas for people, property, explosives, drugs, cash, weapons and other evidential items efficiently and effectively.”
Lady Bathurst left Cornwall on the 13th of September and will ride through 15 counties of England and Scotland, stopping off to visit dog sections and mounted sections of the five services the NFRSA supports along the way.
