Police dogs honoured at dedicated memorial garden

A memorial garden dedicated to police dogs has been unveiled by Humberside Police.

The garden features memorial plaques to canines who have died in service, a plaque from The Thin Blue Paw Foundation and a newly planted memorial tree.

A ceremony was held at the police remembrance garden in Hull on Sunday, with retired and serving dog handlers, trainers, retired police dogs and guests attending.

PC dog handler Steve Matthews said the garden was "a lasting reminder of the extraordinary contributions" of police dogs, and will stand as "a place of reflection, gratitude, and remembrance for all who have served".

He continued: "Our police dogs are more than just a tactical option. They are partners in every sense."

He said the dogs not only "protect officers and the public", but also "bring joy to our communities".

PC Matthews also said the ceremony recognised handlers who he called the "often-unsung heroes of the dog teams".

Humberside Police said the animals play an "indispensable role" in policing - from chasing and detaining suspects to locating missing persons, explosives and digital devices.

The Thin Blue Paw Foundation, which supports retired police dogs across the UK, also joined the ceremony.

Co-founder and trustee Kieran Stanbridge described the memorial garden as "a lovely gesture to honour their service".

He said the charity was launched to "protect and support both working and retired police dogs" but that it also wants to "celebrate their accomplishments and honour their dedication to the job".

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