Poland to introduce retirement benefits for police dogs and horses

Poland’s government is seeking to introduce retirement benefits for dogs and horses that have served in the police force.

Currently, service animals receive no support from the state after finishing work. In practice, this means that retired police dogs are usually adopted by their handlers, who look after them at their own expense, reports Polsat News.

“We use the animals and then, after they finish service, we discard them,” one Polish border guard – handler of a dog called Elmo – told the broadcaster.

That situation is now about to change. On Thursday, the interior ministry – which oversees the police service – announced that it is submitting legislation to provide for animals after they finish work.

“The bill provides for lifelong maintenance and veterinary care,” said the interior minister, Mariusz Kamiński, quoted by Polsat. He hopes that the measures – which cover dogs and horses that have worked for the police, border guard and fire service – will receive cross-party support.

“At the moment, we have about a thousand dogs and several dozen horses in the services,” continued Kamiński. “They are extraordinary animals. Thanks to them, many human lives have been saved and many dangerous criminals have been apprehended. Caring for them is our ethical duty.”

“The role played by our four-legged officers cannot be overestimated,” said Jarosław Szymczyk, the head of Poland’s General Police Headquarters. “That is why it was so important to sort out their fate after the end of their service.”

The legislation would still allow retired animals to be housed with their handlers, or to be taken in by organisations that care for animals. But food, medical treatment and other costs would be covered by the state.

Elmo’s handler, the border guard, tells Polsat he is glad he “will not have to worry about caring from my own pocket for a dog that for years has served the state and citizens for free”.

One charity, which runs the only shelter in Poland where police dogs and horses can be housed after retiring, says that it hopes the new legislation will also apply to animals that have already finished service.

“It is important that the law should apply retroactively for retired horses,” said Sławomir Walkowiak, who works at the shelter. Currently it is maintained donations from the public.

Main image credit: Polsat Wydarzenia (screenshot)

Daniel Tilles

Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.