The Animal Welfare Visiting Scheme provides an independent check on the condition and welfare of police dogs and horses.
Members of the public voluntarily carry out weekly checks on the South Wales Police Dog and Mounted Section in Bridgend.
Volunteers are selected from members of the Custody Visiting Panels, who are appointed following public advertisement.
Why is it important?
The scheme began in 2001, following the death of a police dog at a different force. The lessons learned highlighted the need for a transparent and accountable scheme to provide public confidence in the way police animals are trained and cared for.
Since, it has been essential to ensure the safety and welfare of the animals in the Force.
What do the visitors do?
Checks are made on the condition of kennels, stables, police dog vans and horseboxes, as well as the treatment of the animals.
Visitors are trained by a local vet, the RSPCA and Officers from the Dog and Mounted Section and the Police Authority.
Reports are submitted by the visitors to the Authority.
Is the scheme effective?
The RSPCA has given its endorsement to the scheme, by resuming the donation of gift dogs. Donations had previously been stopped to all forces, following the death of a working dog in another force.
This has been achieved partly through the glowing reports of the visitors, as it proves the arrangements for training and handling the animals were sound, humane and transparent.
Guidelines
To view the full guidelines for the scheme, click on the document below.