Veterinary and rehabilitation treatment will need to be paid for in full, prior to applying for financial assistance, unless otherwise agreed with the foundation such an in the case of emergency lifesaving surgery.
Veterinary medication will need to be paid for in full, prior to applying for financial assistance.
Applications for financial assistance need to be submitted to the foundation within two weeks of the date of the treatment or purchase of medication. Applications which fall outside of two weeks will automatically be rejected by the board of trustees.
Applications for financial assistance will be assessed on an individual treatment basis, including those submitted for recurring treatment or medication.
The foundation’s board of trustees may approve to cover the full cost of treatment, or provide a contribution towards the treatment, based on available charitable funds.
The foundation’s board of trustees reserve the right to reject any applications for financial assistance, without providing reason or rationale of their decision.
EMERGENCY LIFESAVING TREATMENT:
If your retired police dog required lifesaving treatment, such as gastric torsion, please contact the foundation’s emergency contact, available 24/7 on 07802 412058 to inform us of the treatment which your retired police dog in undergoing, and any support you may require from the foundation.
In cases of emergency lifesaving treatment, the foundation may be able to provide pre-authorisation for an application for financial assistance, meaning that you will have peace of mind knowing that the treatment will be covered in full, or a percentage contribution covered by the foundation.
In cases of emergency lifesaving treatment needing to be undertaken to save your retired police dog’s life, the foundation can approve to pay the veterinary provider directly in full, or a percentage contribution of the treatment.
PRE-PLANNED OPERATION, PROCEDURE OR ON-GOING TREATMENT OVER £1,000:
If your retired police dog requires a pre-planned operation, procedure or on-going treatment which is likely to cost over £1,000 please do reach out and inform the foundation at the earliest opportunity. In special cases like these, we may need to set up a dedicated fundraising appeal to support your retired police dog’s treatment.
If your retired police dog requires a pre-planned operation, procedure or on-going treatment which is likely to cost over £1,000, the foundation reserves the right to request a secondary veterinary opinion to establish the most cost effective and appropriate treatment pathway for your retired police dog. In certain situations, this may mean that the foundation will only approve your application for financial assistance, if the treatment is undertaken at an alternative treatment provider, approved by us. This is to ensure that charitable funds are allocated fairly and proportional against the demands of the foundation.
REPEAT MEDICATION:
If your retired police dog requires monthly medication, it must be purchased through an online veterinary medicine website (Pet Drugs Online, VioVet, Animed) after the initial consultation with your veterinarian. It’s simple: just request a prescription from your veterinarian, provide it to the veterinary medicine website, and they will dispense it directly to you by post.
The foundation will only accept applications for financial assistance for repeat medications purchased from online veterinary medicine websites. This restriction does not apply to medications that need to be administered by your veterinarian via injection, or for one-time medications prescribed by your veterinarian to treat a reactive condition for less than seven days.
The foundation will only reimburse the costs for prescription medication in two-month periods. Therefore, please do not order your retired police dog's full prescription in one order if it will exceed a two-month supply.
HYDROTHERAPY & ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES:
We value the positive impact that hydrotherapy or alternative therapies play in a multimodal treatment pathway for retired police dogs with a variety of health conditions. As part of this approach, the foundation requires retired police dogs to have a clear and comprehensive veterinary treatment plan for a diagnosed condition, which includes hydrotherapy or alternative therapies as a treatment requirement, for an application for financial assistance to be submitted to the foundation.
As part of the veterinary treatment plan, retired police dogs need to be reviewed by a veterinarian on a 3-month basis to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment pathway, and evidence provided to the foundation of such reviews.
We limit application for financial assistance for hydrotherapy or alternative therapies sessions to bi-weekly, thus meaning a total of 6 sessions be claimed within a 3-month period. Over the course of a 12-month period, a maximum of 24 sessions can be submitted to the foundation for consideration of support.
EXCLUSIONS:
The foundation is unable to accept applications for financial assistance for the following:
General care costs: food, treats, toys, annual vaccinations, flea and worm treatment.
Prescription food and diets.
Dental hygiene treatment: scale and polish.
Veterinary administration fees: prescription fees, insurance processing fees, etc.
Neutering: castration of males, or spaying of females.
Costs associated with the passing of your retired police dog: euthanasia, cremation, burial, etc.
Treatment or medication required because of a preventable accident, such as your retired police dog eating chocolate.
Treatment or medication required due to a dog attack, such as another dog causing injury to your retired police dog, or your retired police dog causing injury to another person or animal. Costs for treatment as a result of an attack on your retired police dog are claimable against the other involved party and must be reported to the Police.
Treatment or medication covered in full by an insurance policy or monthly insurance payments.
Treatment or medication which has been partly, or fully funded by another organisation, such as a charity.
Treatment or medication which took place prior to your retired police dog’s membership with the foundation.
Please note the above list of exclusions is subject to change without notice, upon approval from the board of trustees. Last updated October 2024.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE:
If you’d like to appeal the decision of the trustees in relation to your retired police dog’s application for financial assistance, this must be done within 28 working days from receipt of your initial outcome. Appeals must be submitted in writing and posted to the attention of Kieran Stanbridge, Chair of Trustees, Thin Blue Paw Foundation, Harpenden Hall, Southdown Rd, Harpenden AL5 1TE.
Your appeal will then be reviewed within 28 working days, with an outcome provided to you which will be the foundation’s final decision.
