A retired Staffordshire Police dog who was stabbed twice in the head still managed to catch his attacker, leading to a landmark prosecution under Finn's Law.
Audi, a 10-year-old German Shepherd, was serving with the force when he was attacked on July 1, 2019, in Stoke-on-Trent. His handler, PC Karl Mander, had been called to a busy area where Daniel O'Sullivan, a violent criminal under the influence of cocaine and synthetic stimulant monkey dust, was wielding a knife and a bottle.
Attack and apprehension
According to Kate Wright, who now cares for Audi, the dog tried to apprehend O'Sullivan but was hit with the bottle and stabbed just above his eye. Despite the injury, Audi chased after the suspect and was stabbed in the head a second time.
PC Mander managed to taser O'Sullivan, and Audi remained by his handler's side throughout. Wright described the ordeal as close, noting that a centimetre either way could have cost Audi his life or his eye. Remarkably, Audi recovered and returned to active duty within a month.
Finn's Law and prosecution
Audi's case became the first successful prosecution under Finn's Law, which was introduced after another police dog, Finn, was stabbed in 2016. The legislation reclassified injuries to service animals from criminal damage to harm against a sentient being, allowing custodial sentences.
O'Sullivan was jailed for 21 months for various offences, including stabbing Audi. Wright said the change is brilliant but called for even longer sentences for harming service animals.
Retirement and ongoing care
Audi has since retired and lives with Wright, a former Staffordshire Police employee, and her family. He still shows signs of his police training, patrolling the garden and remaining alert.
Last Christmas, Audi collapsed at home and was diagnosed with chronic osteoarthritis and spondylosis. The Thin Blue Paw Foundation, which supports retired police dogs, funded his treatment, including hydrotherapy and laser therapy. Wright praised the charity's founder, Kieran Stanbridge, for his dedication to caring for ex-service dogs.
