Audi, a 10-year-old retired German Shepherd police dog, survived being stabbed in the head twice and played a key role in the first successful prosecution under Finn's Law, which led to his attacker being jailed for 21 months.
Kate Wright, Audi's current owner, describes the former Staffordshire Police dog as '42kg of pure muscle' and says they call him 'Big Bear.' Audi served six years with the force, working alongside handler PC Karl Mander.
Attack in Stoke-on-Trent
On July 1, 2019, Audi was deployed in Stoke-on-Trent after a member of the public reported concerns about Daniel O'Sullivan, a violent criminal under the influence of cocaine and monkey dust. O'Sullivan was wielding a knife and a bottle in a busy area.
'He was wielding a knife in one hand with a bottle in the other, in a busy area with lots of people around,' Kate, 42, told Metro. 'Audi tried to apprehend him but Sullivan hit him with the bottle and stabbed him just above his eye. He screamed as anyone in pain would do.'
Despite being injured, Audi pursued O'Sullivan, who stabbed him in the head again. PC Mander then tasered the suspect. 'Luckily, Karl managed to taser the suspect. Despite being seriously injured, Audi was right by his side the whole time,' Kate said. 'It was close. A centimetre either way, Audi could have died or lost his eye.'
Finn's Law and the first successful prosecution
Audi recovered remarkably and returned to duty within a month. His case was pivotal in the implementation of Finn's Law, named after another police dog stabbed in 2016. The law made it possible for violent offenders to receive custodial sentences for harming service animals.
'Before Finn's Law, injuring a police dog was classed as criminal damage to property rather than harming a sentient service animal, so rarely resulted in custodial sentences,' explained Kate. 'Audi's case was the first successful prosecution. It meant Sullivan was jailed for 21 months in total for various offences, including stabbing Audi.'
Kate added, 'It's a brilliant change, but even longer sentences are needed for hurting service animals.'
Retirement and new home
Now retired, Audi lives with Kate, a former Staffordshire Police employee, and her husband Andy. After their Border Collies passed away, Kate texted Andy, 'shall we get another dog?' He replied, 'go on then!' Audi's former handler helped him settle in, and Audi bonded with Kate's 17-year-old son, Sam.
Kate notes that Audi can still 'switch back into police dog mode in a heartbeat' and requires careful management in crowds or around runners and cyclists. He enjoys patrolling the garden.
Health struggles and charity support
Last Christmas, Audi collapsed at home and was diagnosed with chronic osteoarthritis and spondylosis by a specialist in Leicestershire. The ongoing treatment would have strained the family's finances, but the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, which supports retired police dogs, funded all necessary x-rays and treatment.
'He's just finished a course of hydrotherapy and loved it,' Kate said. 'He was like a toddler in a swimming pool – we couldn't get him out. He also had laser therapy to warm his muscles up, so he had to wear goggles for that, which is an amusing sight.'
Kate praised the charity's founder, Kieran Stanbridge, calling him 'a superstar in his dedication to fight for the care and treatment our heroic ex-service dogs deserve.' She added, 'They're like the stars of the police force, everyone's happy to see them – except the bad guys.'
