Jenny Cole

[NFRSA @The_NFRSA]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗳 𝗗-𝗗𝗮𝘆

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy and began the liberation of Western Europe.

Much has been written about the soldiers, sailors and airmen who took part in that historic operation, and rightly so. Their courage and sacrifice helped shape the world we live in today.

What is less well known is that many of them did not serve alone.

Among the thousands of Allied personnel involved were military working dogs. Some were trained to carry messages between units. Others were used to detect mines and explosives, locate enemy positions or stand guard over their handlers during some of the most dangerous moments of the war.

One of the most famous was an Alsatian named Bing, who parachuted into Normandy alongside British troops in the early hours of 6 June 1944. Despite being injured during the operation, he continued to serve throughout the campaign and would later be awarded the Dickin Medal for gallantry.

Like the men they served alongside, these animals faced dangers they could never fully understand. They didn't know where they were going, why they were there or what was waiting for them. They simply trusted their handlers and carried out the tasks they had been trained to do.

It's a reminder that throughout history, service animals have stood beside those in uniform during some of humanity's darkest moments. Their contribution is often overlooked, but it should never be forgotten.

Today, as we remember those who took part in D-Day and the wider war effort, it's worth sparing a thought for the four-legged heroes who served alongside them.

Lest we forget.

🌺🐾

[Pawprints Dog Rescue (UK) @PDRescue]

#rehomehour In her foster home Nala is such a good girl. Can be left for up to 4/5 hrs. Loves people. Happy travelling in the car. Struggles with the outside world & finds general walks overwhelming. Loves going to an enclosed field or playing ball in the garden. #Warwickshire

[Jenny Cole @JenandogsCole]

@DC_PoliceDogs Gosh, that's really set me off, what a moving tribute. Thoughts with all those who loved Blade. He was a beauty.

[Andrew Waddison BEM @AWPRCO]

Angry doesn’t even begin to cover it..

Today at Snettisham beach protected area for ground nesting birds including Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover…...

Signage EVERYWHERE asking for dogs on leads.

📸 Derek Bromage - Snettisham Village Facebook Page.

[MakeChipsCount to Reunite Pets @VetsGetScanning]

Twenty years ago I was reunited with my two stolen dogs, Widget and Gizmo 🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾.

After a traumatic 10 days I was reunited with my dogs because I had a famous father, Sir Bruce Forsyth. We were able to get national newspapers and TV attention. After our first live appearance on GMTV, appealing for help, a man called in saying he thought he had bought Wigdet at a livestock market in Southall, DogLost organised an animal warden to check the dog’s microchip number and it was Widget! The next day we did another appeal to find Gizmo and luckily enough a lady phoned up to say she had bought a dog of a man in Hayes Park, who looked like Gizmo. The animal warden went out again and it was Gizmo. If it hadn’t been for my father I don’t believe I would ever had got them back!

This was back in May 2006.

Twenty years ago, my family and I thought we could help other pet owners with missing/stolen dogs and started the Vets Get Scanning campaign.

I thought it was a simple fix 🤦🏼‍♀️

Dog Theft was a new phenomenon, I remember telling people in the pet industry that my dogs were stolen, only for them to laugh saying dogs aren’t stolen - they run off and get lost 😡.

Because I had experienced the complete cycle of car window being smashed and the dogs being sold on to unsuspecting new families, I could see there was a possible route to help others who were suffering the devastation that my family and I had just experienced.

Microchips were fairly new back then, mainly being used for the pet passport scheme, which is why our boys were chipped. I wondered if the veterinary profession thought that they could help reunite dogs that had been sold on by checking microchip registration at pets first treatment? There were only 2 microchip databases back then!

Today we have a fragmented microchip system with 25 independent databases in competition with each other, with incompatible logins and no joined-up access. Authorised users searching for a chip match, find the database and then the problems begin with most databases working 9-5 Monday to Friday, some databases have none GDPR call centres who can only take messages, some databases still relying on phone messaging or emails, the person with your lost dog or cat can wait days or even a week for a response from them. Animals go unidentified. Owners go without answers.

With the #PetTheftReform campaign highlighting the microchip problems the Government’s Pet Theft Taskforce recommended a Central microchip Portal, at last a solution to a growing problem.

DEFRA picked up the mantle and announced in March 2024 the fix with their Central Microchip Portal the single, publicly accountable system linking all 25 UK-compliant databases with one login for vets, wardens and police, providing instant 24/7 access to all microchip records, saving time and ensuring rapid reunifications.

Why was it dropped?

Still petitioning, still trying to get microchips reuniting missing pets!

PLEASE sign to save the UK microchip portal https://t.co/vuTl8q5R6V

#MakeChipsCount #ScanMe #PetAbduction #TheftByFinding #petition #doglover #catlovers

[Jenny Cole @JenandogsCole]

Surfers Against Sewage are about to meet with the government to discuss the sewage pollution scandal. Sign the petition to show just how many of us demand change. Over 270k have signed - now let's get this to a number Starmer can't ignore. https://t.co/dVV73skAj9 via @38degrees

[Jenny Cole @JenandogsCole]

@zoedonegan @sainsburys Feel your pain. Similar with Argos - it took us 20 days of chasing to get a refund out of them.

[Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison]

I've got enough experience doing this to know that it's probably going to be weeks rather than months for Mr. Atlas. Our wonderful house dog at @wearehappydoggo has had two huge operations and we've given him every chance imaginable.

I've just noticed in the past few days that his energy levels have dropped. He's taken an extra hour in his bed. He's having longer lounges on the couch. His energy has dipped and his eyes are just that little bit cloudy. that has all been confirmed by blood work and lots of different tests.

We are a rescue and ultimately we're judged on how many dogs we can save. I always knew that it would be a quality of life thing with Atlas and that ultimately we would not be able to give him a long life. I do happen to believe, though, that the work we do in making these dogs happy at the end of their lives is just as important as anything else we do at scale.

Atlas is still at that stage where he has great spurts of energy and goes on walks and looks for attention from all his favorite humans. We'll wrap him up in cotton wool, pamper him, shower him in love and get him all the meds he can have. No stone will go unturned to make sure Atlas continues to live his dream life while he can.

I always say that dogs live in the moment. Atlas can't remember his horrid times on the streets or his massive tumor that he carried around for years. All he knows is the love, attention, great food, and wonderful life he will have today. Every other day will be a bonus and we’ll be with him every step of the way ❤️

[Jenny Cole @JenandogsCole]

Hey @sainsburys, I was chatting to your bot about my decomposing carrots when it all went quiet. Was it something I said?

[Jenny Cole @JenandogsCole]

@Hoppers71 Gosh, Paul, having dogs certainly throws up some challenges at times, doesn't it. Fingers crossed for Sully's speedy recovery.

[Ricky Gervais @rickygervais]

The best thing is, they'll never forget it 👍

[Jennifer Thetford-Kay @JenKteach]

Green Party hypocrisy in one councillor:
Zoe Marlow starved her Staffie to death, The RSPCA investigated after a tip-off, and found the elderly dog severely emaciated, very weak, unable to stand properly, and suffering from muscle wastage.
She was convicted, sentenced to a six-month community order, ordered to pay a £120 fine, complete five rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days, and was banned from keeping dogs for five years, but still sits as their rep while pushing trans ideology on her own child.
They lecture us on animal welfare and "kindness" but can't even protect a dog in the home of one of their own. Inhumane. 😡

[Jenny Cole @JenandogsCole]

@The_NFRSA @RPDSnap Thinking of you, hope all goes well 🤞

[ESN Report @ES_News_]

History Was Made: PD Wish... The First UK Police Dog to Receive the BAGSD Bravery Award

This one may have slipped under the radar when it was first shared last year, but it absolutely deserves to be heard, because PD Wish made history.

The Merseyside Police dog became the first police dog in the United Kingdom to receive the prestigious BAGSD Bravery Award, recognised alongside her handler Con Spencer for their actions during a knife incident in St Helens. Wish brought a dangerous situation to a safe conclusion with calm, control, and the kind of composed courage under pressure that most humans would struggle to match.

Knife incidents are among the most dangerous situations any police officer or police dog can face. The risk of serious injury is real and immediate. In those moments, there is no script and no guarantee of a safe outcome. What there is, is training, trust between handler and dog, and the instinct to act.

PD Wish and Con Spencer had all three.

The BAGSD Bravery Award is a prestigious honour, and the fact that no police dog had received it before Wish speaks both to how high the bar is and to just how exceptional her actions were. Merseyside Police Dogs have long been one of the most celebrated dog units in the country, and this is another moment that underlines exactly why.

If you missed this last year, now you know. Congratulations to PD Wish and Con Spencer. A historic achievement, and thoroughly deserved.

Should bravery awards for police animals receive more mainstream coverage? Let us know in the comments.

[Jenny Cole @JenandogsCole]

Kennelling locally is now a staggering £30 per dog per day, even if you provide your own food. And that's on top of the vaccs required. Meanwhile 26 quid gets the rest of us a night on a secure premium caravan pitch or £20 in an adults-only farm field. Ouch!

[NFRSA @The_NFRSA]

We have sadly said goodnight to a member of the NFRSA family.

RPD Koda served with the @nuclearpolice for an amazing ten years before retiring to his handler Dave. This is Dave and Koda’s story:

“Koda

Koda was bred by Greater Manchester Police @GMPDogs and arrived with us as a nine week old ball of fluff in 2014.

In 2015, we licensed as a General Purpose dog team. Based in Cumbria, where we helped protect a Nuclear site.

In 2017, we successfully completed a Tactical Firearms Support Dog course.

I could have only dreamed of what an amazing dog he would turn out to be. He loved to work, and although we weren’t on the streets as much as he would have liked, he could hold his own in the Home Office policing world.

We had numerous mutual aid deployments, where he helped find high risk missing persons, tracking offenders and assisting in safe arrests and searching for evidence.

As my first GP dog, I couldn’t have asked for better. Loyal, fearless and with an amazing work ethic. We created a bond that I didn’t think possible between a handler and dog.

I’m forever grateful to him for making me into the handler that I am today and for always having my back.

We had to face some really tricky situations during our working time together, but having him by my side made it so much easier.

He retired as a GP dog in late 2024, when old age had caught up with him, but it’s testament to his ability and desire to work that he was still able to perform at the age that he was.

In retirement, he enjoyed time at home with family, lying in front of the fire and spending time with us all.

He leaves a huge hole in our lives, but I am incredibly grateful for the time we had together and the memories will last a lifetime.

RIP Koda 2013-2026”

@gmpolice

[GSD Vine @GSDvine]

https://t.co/wvtozCvgH7

Please share this little lady was found in Staffordshire Cannock chase, recently been groomed so hopeful she has someone looking for her. 🐾🐾🥰🥰

[Focus On Animal Law @theFOALGroup]

...enjoying the multitude of dogs enjoying the sea, the beach, the woodland paths, until I saw these two.... 🤬🤬🤬🤬 Anyone who suggests they are genuine rescues, two generations, same breed, same crop...yeah right! It's illegal. It's barbaric. It's unnecessary.
#FlopNotCrop

[DC_Police Dogs ( Puppy Development Program) @DC_PoliceDogs]

Koda meeting TPD Ronnie at Woodside animal rescue centre Elfordleigh Plymouth. A lovely social friendly dog needing a new home. Previous owners who had him from a pup now work longer hours. Will make someone with time for him a lovely companion. Tel [phone]

[Pawprints Dog Rescue (UK) @PDRescue]

This is our biggest fundraiser. Please #savethedate, and come along & support us! 🙏

#Warwickshire #rescue #charity #rescuedogs