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News & Reports awards
Award for animal service to society TEN Metropolitan Police horses and one police dog have become the first recipients of a new award created by the PDSA to recognise ‘distinguished excellence through service to society’. The PDSA Order of Merit, which the charity describes as ‘the animals’ OBE’, was presented to the animals at a ceremony on June 17 in recognition of their actions to safeguard life and property during the London riots in August 2011. The charity says that horses played a key part in the Metropolitan Police’s response to the riots. It notes that, despite being faced with conditions that many had no experience of and which exceeded what they had been trained for, including burning buildings, falling debris and missiles, the horses helped restore order to the streets, bringing protection and reassurance to the communities that were affected. Metropolitan Police dogs were also called into action during the disturbances in various locations around the capital. The charity notes that, over several days, the dogs and handlers were repeatedly deployed to assist
Police dog ‘Linpol Luke’ and 10 horses were awarded the PDSA Order of Merit, at the Honourable Artillery Company, London, on June 17
police support units working to protect the public and property. Many suffered injuries, including ‘Linpol Luke’ – affectionately known as Obi by officers – which suffered a fractured skull. Obi received the award on behalf of all the dogs that served during the riots. ‘We are honoured that our horses and dogs are to be the first recipients of the PDSA Order of Merit,’ said Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector Ade Adelekan. ‘Had it not been for the deployment of police animals, their handlers and riders across London, there would have been significantly more harm caused to our communities and to the officers trying to restore order to the streets.’ doi: 10.1136/vr.g4154
June 28, 2014 | Veterinary Record | 649
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on June 23, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Award for animal service to society
Veterinary Record 2014 174: 649
doi: 10.1136/vr.g4154 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/26/649.1
These include:
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Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
News & Reports awards
Award for animal service to society TEN Metropolitan Police horses and one police dog have become the first recipients of a new award created by the PDSA to recognise ‘distinguished excellence through service to society’. The PDSA Order of Merit, which the charity describes as ‘the animals’ OBE’, was presented to the animals at a ceremony on June 17 in recognition of their actions to safeguard life and property during the London riots in August 2011. The charity says that horses played a key part in the Metropolitan Police’s response to the riots. It notes that, despite being faced with conditions that many had no experience of and which exceeded what they had been trained for, including burning buildings, falling debris and missiles, the horses helped restore order to the streets, bringing protection and reassurance to the communities that were affected. Metropolitan Police dogs were also called into action during the disturbances in various locations around the capital. The charity notes that, over several days, the dogs and handlers were repeatedly deployed to assist
Police dog ‘Linpol Luke’ and 10 horses were awarded the PDSA Order of Merit, at the Honourable Artillery Company, London, on June 17
police support units working to protect the public and property. Many suffered injuries, including ‘Linpol Luke’ – affectionately known as Obi by officers – which suffered a fractured skull. Obi received the award on behalf of all the dogs that served during the riots. ‘We are honoured that our horses and dogs are to be the first recipients of the PDSA Order of Merit,’ said Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector Ade Adelekan. ‘Had it not been for the deployment of police animals, their handlers and riders across London, there would have been significantly more harm caused to our communities and to the officers trying to restore order to the streets.’ doi: 10.1136/vr.g4154
June 28, 2014 | Veterinary Record | 649
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on June 23, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Award for animal service to society
Veterinary Record 2014 174: 649
doi: 10.1136/vr.g4154 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/26/649.1
These include:
Email alerting service
Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
