Fed member grateful as retired police dog's surgery paid for by national animal charity

23 January 2024

A West Midlands Police Federation member has said ‘thank-you’ to a national animal charity that paid the costs of surgery for his retired police dog.

PC Greg Ward said he wanted to give back to the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA) after it stepped in to pay for an eye operation for his 12-year-old springer spaniel, Nugget.

Greg, West Midlands Police hackney carriage and private hire liaison and enforcement officer, said: “I’m really grateful for the support of the NFRSA. It’s such a good charity. I wanted to say thank-you to them and to give them something back.”

Nugget was a brood bitch with West Midlands Police before she retired aged eight and was given a home by Greg.

She needed an operation on her eye late last year and as West Midlands Police’s retired dog fund does not cover brood bitches, Greg was able to get support from the NFRSA.

The 12-year-old springer spaniel, Nugget.

The NFRSA helps with medical costs for police dogs and horses, fire dogs, prison dogs and border force dogs.

Greg said he was pleased to receive a phone call from the charity’s founder Lady Bathurst after making an application for assistance.

He said: “Nugget had the operation on the Monday, and then on the Tuesday morning, I had a phone call at home from Lady Bathurst to ask how she was and about the operation. I was amazed.

“She set this charity up and was calling me at home. The fact she phoned me up shows how much she cares and is involved on a day-to-day basis.

“She phoned again on the Friday and said that they would pay the bill. I didn’t really know what to say. I’m really grateful and now I want to give something back.”

Greg is highlighting the NFRSA for owners of other service animals.

PC Greg Ward and Nugget.

And he’s also highlighting the charity’s Paws for a Coffee fundraising campaign, which he has signed up for.

The campaign asks people to donate just £3, or the price of a coffee each month.

“I want to help raise awareness of the charity and the campaign because they have been so good to Nugget and me,” he said.

“And I also I want to make colleagues aware of the charity. There are plenty of dog handlers out there, and you never know when you might need its support.”

More information about the charity can be found at www.nfrsa.org.uk.