Dog who made Simon Cowell cry on BGT named ambassador for police dog charity

His touching story brought Simon Cowell to tears on BGT and now heroic Finn’s bravery has led him to become an ambassador of a new UK charity supporting police dogs.
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Published on the 24/08/2020, 18:00
Police officer Dave Wardell and his beloved German Shepherd Finn are perhaps best known for making it to the finals on Britain’s Got Talent in 2019. But while they impressed the celebrity judges with their magic tricks and mind-reading skills, it was the pair’s incredible friendship that made the duo stand out, even moving Simon Cowell to tears.
Call of duty
Finn worked alongside Dave as his canine police partner when he was viciously stabbed as he saved Dave from a brutal knife attack.
The attack led to a campaign which saw Finn’s Law being passed which meant anyone who injures service animals cannot claim self-defence. Finn’s incredible bravery inspired Dave to write a book about Finn and how he came back from the brink of death.
Heroic canines
But while the duo may not have won, coming in fifth place, Finn has turned his attention to helping other service dogs like him. He has been named ambassador for The Thin Blue Paw Foundation, a national UK charity set up to offer financial help for the owners of active and retired police dogs.
The work of serving police dogs ranges from catching armed robbers to finding people who are suicidal. But despite their heroic work, there is no financial support available for these dogs, especially when they’ve retired. This new charity hopes to bridge the gap and help former service dogs enjoy a happy and healthy retirement.
Well done Finn!
See also: WATCH: Police puppy unable to stay awake through his own swearing-in ceremony
Frequently asked questions
What are the popular German Shepherd mixed breeds?
While the German Shepherd is a very popular dog breed it has been successfully mixed with several other breeds including the Golden Retriever, Labrador and Rottweiler to create a mix that brings out the best traits of both breeds.
Find out more about the German Shepherd cross.
Why do the police use dogs?
Police dogs have been specially trained to assist police in their day to day work. Thanks to their intelligence and incredible sense of smell, trained canines can help police in a variety of ways. Police dogs can help to find drugs or explosives, locate suspects, missing people or objects, pick up traces of materials at a suspected arson site and even detect the odour of a dead body.
Find out more about the history of K9 police dogs.
Which dogs make the best working dogs?
A dog can be much more than just a loving family pet. Many working dog breeds can help people do a range of jobs from search and rescue, hunting and law enforcement to providing companionship and practical assistance to people with disabilities. Some of the most well-known working dogs are the German Shepherd, Labrador and Bloodhound who use their intelligence and skills unique to their breed to provide invaluable help.
Find out more about the best working dog breeds.
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