Animals receive OBEs for bravery during London riots
PC Phil Wells with Obi and the 10 Met Police horses to receive the Order of Merit.
For the first time, police dogs and horses have been recognised for their heroic actions during the 2011 London riots. At an inaugural presentation yesterday, the PDSA introduced its Order of Merit - the animal equivalent of an OBE.
At a ceremony in London, 10 horses and one dog from the Metropolitan Police were honoured for their work protecting the public, police and firefighters during the public disorder.
"Today we pay tribute to some truly exceptional acts of devotion," said Jan McLoughlin, PDSA's director general.
"The extreme situations these animals faced exceeded anything they had experienced before. It is testament to their character and steadfast resolution that they have become the first recipients of the PDSA Order of Merit."
During the riots, horses faced burning buildings, noise, falling debris and missiles. Countless bricks struck their chests and hindquarters.
Despite the chaos they faced, the horses enabled the fire service, who were also under attack, to reach burning buildings and check if anyone was still inside.
They worked for hours on end helping to restore order to the streets, offering protection and reassurance to the community. By the time they stood down they were on the brink of exhaustion.
Two horses in particular, Boris and Laurel, went bravely into thick, acrid smoke and noise, giving the other horses the confidence to move forward.
None of the horses had experienced anything like this scale of disorder before and Laurel had only been classified as an operational horse a few days before the riots began. Boris had carried out many ceremonial escorts, most notably for the royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Many Metropolitan Police dogs also sustained injuries from the hail of missiles directed at them. One in particular, Linpol Luke - known affectionately by officers as Obi - suffered a fractured skull. He received the Order of Merit yesterday on behalf of all the dogs that served during the riots.
Metropolitan Police chief inspector Ade Adelekan said: "We are honoured that our horses and dogs are to be the first recipients of the PDSA Order of Merit.
"Had it not been for the deployment of police animals, their handlers and riders across London, there would have been significantly more harm caused to our communities and to the officers trying to restore order to the streets.”
The gratitude shopkeepers and residents felt towards the animals was clear, as they brought out food and water to help sustain them.
The Order of Merit has been created to honour and recognise the exceptional contributions of animals to society. "As well as the companionship they bring to millions, animals serve and protect us in so many ways. This is why we have created this important new medal," Jan McLoughlin added.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
