Seven police dogs awarded 'animal OBEs' for work after London terror attacks

Seven dogs, who helped police during the London terror attacks, have been honoured with an award dubbed as the ‘animal OBE’ for their service.

The PDSA Order of Merit was presented to the dogs and their handlers for their work after the Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Borough Market attacks of 2017.

The seven were chosen from a group of 19, from the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police animals, who were honoured by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) on Thursday.

Westminster Bridge - Wednesday 22 March 2017

In March 2017, Central London was hit by a terrorist attack that, in just 82 seconds, left five people dead, including a police officer, and 29 injured.

In the moments following the attack, the BTP Explosive Search Dog Section and the Met Police Explosive Detection Dog Team were rushed to the scene to assess the situation and ensure public safety.

They searched through the chaos for potential devices that could cause further harm on the bridge itself and around Parliament Square.

Police protocol states that if an object or area has been declared suspicious, all emergency services must withdraw until the scene is confirmed safe.

The dogs and handlers put themselves directly in harm’s way to secure the scene, ensure the safety of the public and allow life-saving treatment of the casualties.

London Bridge and Borough Market - Saturday 3 June 2017

In June 2017, a white van containing three attackers drove into ten pedestrians on London Bridge, seriously injuring eight and killing two.

The attackers alighted from the van armed with knives and appeared to be wearing suicide vests. They ran through Borough Market, continuing their assaults on innocent members of the public.

In total, eight people were killed and 48 people were injured during the attack.

The police dogs and their handlers often worked up to 13 hours, searching buildings, vehicles and nearby roads to ensure there were no explosive devices.

Throughout the incident the teams worked with the knowledge that potential further danger remained all around them, but put the safety of the public ahead of their own as they tirelessly continued their work.

The Award

BTP Inspector Paul Miles said: “I am immensely proud of our dogs and their handlers, and absolutely thrilled to see their bravery and resilience recognised through this very special award.

“It is impossible to overstate the courage and dedication show by our dog teams, and all of their colleagues who responded to the tragic events of 2017.

“They worked through physically and emotionally challenging conditions without second thought, willingly walking into danger and putting the public’s safety before their own.

“While today is a day of celebration, the horror of these incidents will never leave us and our thoughts will always remain with those who lost their lives and were injured.”

Chief Inspector Graham Horwood from the Met’s Taskforce said: “It is a huge honour for our heroic police dogs to be awarded with such a prestigious medal.

“Our Police Dogs and their handlers work day and night, in some of the most challenging environments, to help keep London safe and we are immensely proud that their exceptional work has been recognised.

“Our thoughts and condolences remain with those affected by the awful events that took place in 2017.”

The PDSA Order of Merit, which began in 2014, recognises animals who display outstanding devotion to their owner or wider society, above and beyond normal companionship – and represents an exceptional example of the special relationship that exists between animals and humans.

There have been 28 recipients of the award – 18 dogs and 10 horses.