Nearly 3,000 signatures! Thank you everyone

Thank you to everyone who has so far signed and shared the petition.

There are nearly 3,000 signatures!

Why does finding out what has happened to Hero matter so much? Why does Dave want to know where she is and whether she is alive and well? 

Please see below:

I once asked Dave to tell me about why Hero was so special and I recently asked him to share some of those thoughts again.

This is why Hero and the H litter matters to Dave so much.

Kaye

“A brief explanation about the H litter; how important they are to me (and where they are) and how I always promised I’d know where they always were…

The H litter, comprising of Hero - Diesel, Hector, Harper and Hope, came to my attention when I was looking for 3 police dogs for a course. 

This was just about 6 weeks after Finn was stabbed and there was a certain amount of pressure on me to come back to work, even though I was bringing Finn back up to full health and fitness. 

A colleague had heard of an entire litter of German Shepherds from the Surrey Police breeding program that were no longer needed due to cuts. They were now surplus to requirements and needed a home. Preferably a working home. 

I was given all 4 H’s on a 28 day trial.
I was in my element. 4 high drive police-bred puppies. 

At the end of the 28 days I wanted all 4. We had a need for them within the organisation too but due to funding constraints we could only keep two and I had to say goodbye to Hope and Harper. 

I took Hector for my colleague who had expressed a very serious interest in him, and Hero - Diesel who I felt was a brilliant dog.

Hero was strong, independent, powerful and intelligent. Just what I wanted in a police dog. 

Hero was to be the ‘spare’ police dog in the course that I was to instruct. My hope was that she wouldn’t be needed and that she would become my police dog after Finn was retired on his 8th birthday, as I’d always planned. Finn went into semi retirement during the course. That was brilliant because it meant that he was taken off the street; was semi protected from any more harm but was able to come to work with me still everyday, as he loved to do. He still got to train and spend all day long with me. 

So, we were set. A 13 week course. Finn tagging along for the ride and to educate the youngsters and Hero alongside him in my van. Hector with my friend and two other new dogs with their handlers. 

I tried to keep tabs on the other two H’s, Harper and Hope. They were two incredible dogs that I had shown on paper that we had a need for and had built a relationship and a bond with in those 28 days. I wanted to know where they were going. I wanted to know if I might be able to get them back if a need arose. 

What happened to Hope and Harper? They both went on to become fully licensed police dogs for neighbouring forces. More on them later. 

I always wanted to know of the whereabouts and welfare of all the H litter. I had a moral responsibility to them. They had come through my hands. They’d been breed for police work. I owed them something.  I kept tabs on Harper and Hope. 

Hero - Diesel was at home with me and I saw Hector everyday. 

The other two dogs on the course that I was conducting were ok and would certainly make the grade. 

Hero came out at every available opportunity to develop and prove herself. She never let me down.

I protected HD. I wanted her! She was brilliant. Strong willed. Stubborn. Hard working. Just what Finn had taught me was the ideal dog (although for some she was categorised as ‘too difficult’)”

(Dave Wardell)