Saw this on a UK Doberman forum and wanted to pass it along, the dog is a German Shepherd.

A PLEA TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A FAITHFUL, LOYAL HONEST POLICE DOG

My Husband is a serving police dog handler and home office police dog instructor with Gwent police and for the past 4 years has had the honour and privilege of handling the most wonderful police dog.

Saxon who is a 5-year-old German Shepherd has been an extremely loyal and faithful servant of the police force and has been responsible for detecting many criminals. Saxon has been my husband’s partner, sole mate trusted friend and loyal companion during his service and on many occasions my husband has been alone in very dangerous situations with only himself and Saxon to arrest serious and sometimes violent criminals. Both my husband and Saxon have been commended for their team efforts they even had a personal letter from the chief constable on one occasion.

My husband’s stories to me are endless and amazing and I feel safe in the knowledge that Saxon has and will put his own life in front of my husbands to protect and look after him.

When off duty Saxon lives at home and is looked after by the whole family, my daughter takes him for walks and always plays with him. Saxon lives both in his kennel and inside our home where his favourite place is on the sofa next to my husband, sometimes I just don’t get a look in they are like a married couple.

For the past 3 months Saxon has been housed at the police kennels at Glascoed where he has been looked after by the police dog handlers whilst my husband has been away.

A few weeks ago my husband was informed that Saxon was not to be re licensed as police dog and senior officers were to make a decision as to his future.

My husband stated his case and made representations on Saxons behalf offering him a retirement home with us as his family for the rest of his life. We were as a family more than happy for this to happen, Saxon is not a danger, as anyone who knows him or has looked after him will testify.

We were and are prepared to sign any agreement as to liability issues with regards to him.
Today my husband was informed that Saxon is to be destroyed and the reason given as being ‘the responsible thing to do’

My husband is distraught and extremely upset this dog has meant so much to him over the years however as a serving officer cannot do anything about it due to the restrictions imposed on him by the service!

He has no voice, BUT I AND MY FAMILY DO
Therefore I want to make an appeal for Saxons life and I feel that the general public should be made aware of the facts, please help us to SAVE OUR SAXON.
The police use Usk vetenary surgery at usk for all the vetenary care for police dogs, surely they cannot nor any other vetenary surgey be asked to put down a perfectly healthy, fit and loyal dog just because it has come to the end of his service?
The Police management will argue that he is a dangerous dog, well that’s just nonsense, just ask all the handlers and kennel staff who look after him, all the officers who know and respect him, ask them who is the best Police dog in gwent? And guess who they will say.
I feel that the police management are treating this living animal with no regard whatsoever, like a disposable tool, he has had his use and now its time to get rid of him.
Is this the thanks that they give to a loyal and faithful servant?
Will they do the same to other dogs in the future?
How can anyone now donate dogs to the Police Service knowing that they will be destroyed at the end of their service.
The truth about Gwent Police dog section must be heard.
The Article that you wrote about Kye was given to you for the sole intention of saving his life.
If you had not published the article then Kye would be dead.
Ask the Police how many other dogs they have had killed.
The police have members of the public assigned to monitor the health safety and welfare of Police dogs, well where are they in this case and what are they doing, are they just puppets on the police’s strings?

Yes Saxon is the property of Gwent Police service that are answerable to the general public and police by consent.

Saxon belongs to the people of gwent who he has protected whilst we all sleep at night, who has caught criminals breaking into our homes, who has with my husband caught numerous car thieves who has faced armed and violent criminals alone, who has found missing children cleaning their faces, who has represented Gwent Police at Regional Police Dog Trials, who has taken part in open day events, the list goes on and on.….SO MUCH FOR A DANGEROUS DOG.

Saxons days are numbered he due to be put to sleep we need your help now, please help to save this wonderful dog.

To register your opposition to killing Saxon please e-mail the following:

'policeauthority@gwent.pnn.police.uk'


Saxon's Photo on his handler's website and owner contact info...see under BGSD dogs in service

http://www.policedogsrus.com/dogsforsale.php?id=16&section_id=4

PS - from emailing back and forth with the owner this issue (euthanizing a retired police dog) has come up before for other dogs.

In previous cases, public opposition has halted the execution and the retired dog has been saved, so your protest does matter and you can make a difference for this dog.

Does the Department give any reasons for the decission, such as it being UK law?

This is NOT the law in UK, as far as I'm aware, unless Saxon has been judged to be dangerous <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I'll get right to it with an email!
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I have emailed my protest to the police authority . I am now wondering which UK newspaper might take up cudgels on Saxon's behalf.

Just curious - would be more effective to have 50 people send an email each to the above email or to actually have one email sent with 50 signatures?
I have a group that is willing to sign an email or send an email each providing I give them a template to use. What's your opinan?

I'd have thought that one mail with 50 sigs (+ their email adds to show they aren't all the same person!) would be better.
Separate mails might just clog-up the intended recipents email system.

YMMV

Coming from a large family with several of them with the Chicago Police Dept. I myself have had the privilege of meeting some of thier dogs ,and the whole idea of this well trained dog being dangerous is utterly stupid in my opinion.Being 5 yrs. old this dog still have a lot of life left in him and to destroy him actually angers me.Whoever is supposed to be protecting the rights of this dog needs a slap.These police dogs are not only highly trained in obedience,protection,scenting,and tracking,but are also trained to assess a situation and respond accordingly.An untrained dog is more of a danger than these dogs and this particular police dept. should be ashamed of themselves.Who deemed this dog dangerous?Sorry for going off but this post boiled my blood. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Without getting into specifics (personal request)...I can tell you that the reason for putting the dog down is because he does his job TOO well. This decision was made shortly after the dog saved the life of his handler. Go figure!

Howard

Thanks for the info Woody... I'm terriable at writing "professional" letters.. has anyone emailed them? I have collected well over 65 signatures which include FIrst & Last Name, Location and email. Since yesterday I've been recieving emails from friends and people I don't know that are really mad and want to sign the letter being sent to them.

This is just wrong... =0(