cont police dog needs help! - Page 3

Quita If you need info you can contact me C.

Radical: How can we email you?

carol@woollams.co.uk

I have registered and emailed my complaint. I have forwarded this site address to all I know in the hope of being able to help not just this police dog but many others. Any more news on Saxon?

See 3 pm post Carol

ISSUED BY GWENT POLICE SAXON - PRESS STATEMENT A great deal of public interest has been shown in the future of the police dog, Saxon, which has recently been withdrawn from operational duties as a result of concerns about its temperament. Saxon will be assessed tomorrow, Tuesday 8th August, by HM Prison Service with a view to his working with them in the future. Such a move would enable Saxon to continue to use training and skills acquired as a police dog in a more closely controlled environment where access to the general public is restricted. This would be a positive outcome since our priority has always been to ensure the safety of the public. Posted 7th August, 2006 COMMENT ON THE ABOVE PRESS STATEMENT There has been no independent assessment of Saxon. Saxon has NOT failed any required assessment by the Home Office Saxon has 4 years excellent service with Gwent Police (human equivalent is 30 years) Gwent Police have failed to adopt reasonable and responsible procedures regarding Saxon There is no evidence that Saxon presents any danger to the Public, either now or in the last 4 years The possible move of Saxon to H M Prison Service is premature considering all the above. Gwent Police have clearly illustrated serious management failures in their Dog Section. There should be a Public Enquiry into the Gwent Police Dog Section to determine if it is "FIT FOR PURPOSE" and particularly its management of Police Dog Saxon. Until such an enquiry is complete, and has reported, NO action should be taken with regard to Saxon. 8th August 2006

The campaign to save SAXON is GLOBAL - The campaign MUST CONTINUE THIS CAMPAIGN HAS ONE SINGLE AIM - TO SAVE SAXON'S LIFE Below is the complaint form for the IPCC, perhaps some of you might consider the use of this as well?  http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/complaint_form_fill-2.pdf

8th August 2006 Thank you for your enquiry to the Prison Service website that has been passed to me to respond. I have deliberately delayed responding to you till today when I have had a report on the dog in question. With us having over 750 dogs you can imagine that we get offered dogs from many different homes and backgrounds and therefore have to be careful on assessing the different offers to see if they would be suitable and safe for our work. One of my trainers has been to look at the German Shepherd Dog Saxon to assess if he would be suitable for us to train and use as a prison patrol dog, the assessment normally would take into account the dogs physical condition, temperament and abilities as well as considering any legal or Health and Safety implications. After the assessment of this dog my trainer has reported that Saxon is not suitable as a potential prison patrol dog and of no use to us, but as Saxon was under threat of being humanely destroyed I believe it was worth us looking at him to see if we could use him. I am aware of the campaign in respect of Saxon but I am afraid I can not comment on police decisions, I strongly believe in what is said, in the article you quote, about the unconditional love or bond between most handlers and their dogs, sometimes however decisions have to be made that consider other more down to earth matters which may or may not be the situation in this case. Yours sincerely Steve Allen SJK Allen Governor HM Prison Dogs

8th August 2006  SAXON - PRESS STATEMENT  Saxon was assessed by HM Prison Service earlier today who concluded that he is ‘not suitable as a potential prison patrol dog.’  Gwent Police will now review the situation and explore other options for Saxon’s future.  He is currently being cared for at police kennels alongside other police dogs receiving the same high standards of care and exercise.  -- ends --

PLEASE VISIT http://www.saveoursaxon.co.uk/