Ever wondered how Cumbria Police Dog Benevolent Fund started?

Sometimes, it begins with a simple idea: a wall calendar, and a whole lot of love for dogs. It just shows that one small act can grow into supporting Cumbria’s retired police dogs with much needed medical bill assistance.

Back in 2010, an officer serving on Cumbria’s police dog section noticed an issue that weighed heavily on handlers' minds: when our brave four-legged colleagues retire, they don't get a pension. This could potentially put adopters off of taking on a retired police dog - when in fact, these dogs deserve the very best after giving their all to protecting us and serving.

While Cumbria Constabulary gives working dogs first-class care during their service, the moment they retire, public funding stops when dogs transition into being a family pet. This means their daily care and medical costs have to pass on to their new owners.

Often, police dog handlers keep their retired police dogs, so it can quickly become a huge financial commitment to keep a retired police dog if they sustained injuries or medical issues during their service.

From Small Beginnings

To lend a helping hand, a dedicated group came together under the name Cumbria Police Dog Pensioners.

It started out as an informal, friendly effort. The team put together a calendar featuring photos of the force's dogs, selling copies to colleagues and friends to raise a little pot of money for vet bills.

Over time, more people wanted to get involved. Handlers from the dog section and passionate local dog lovers stepped up to give the fund a proper boost. What started as an informal project quickly gained momentum, and in 2023, we officially became a registered charity: the Cumbria Police Dog Benevolent Fund.

Why Our Dogs Need a Helping Hand

Police dogs lead incredible, demanding lives. Whether it’s searching the fells for a vulnerable missing person or tracking down suspects, they put their bodies on the line every day to protect our communities.

Today, we support around 22 retired police dogs across Cumbria. Our canine pensioners include:

• General purpose dogs like German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Dutch Herders
• Energetic detection dogs like Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, and Labradors

All those years of running, jumping, and working in tough weather take a physical toll. Some dogs retire with old injuries or develop stiff joints and early arthritis, or they may sustain injuries during their work.

Because commercial pet insurance companies class these as pre-existing conditions, getting cover for existing conditions can be impossible. That leaves the wonderful handlers and families who adopt them facing the prospect of steep, unexpected veterinary bills.

We believe no adopter should ever face the heartbreak of worrying about how to pay for medical care for a dog that spent their life serving Cumbria.

How You Can Help

We are run entirely by volunteers - across serving police officers, staff, and local dog lovers working hand-in-hand. Every single penny raised goes directly towards medical bills, pain relief, and treatments to keep our retired dogs comfortable.

Here is how you can support our four-legged pensioners:

• Donate via our JustGiving page: Every single pound helps cover essential medication and vet bills.
• Visit our online shop: Pick up CPDBF merchandise to show your support.
• Share our story: Telling your friends and sharing our posts helps spread the word across Cumbria and beyond.

Click here to visit our website or donate on JustGiving to support our retired dogs.