Appeal launched to help hero police dog retire with family to Australia | UK | News
PC Paul Burns and his partner police dog Wolf (Image: Supplied)
A call has been launched in Australia for the heroic police dog to retire with his handler and family. Police dog (PD) Wolf served with Nottinghamshire Police for eight years, tackling knife-wielding maniacs, apprehending fleeing suspects and protecting the public and his human officer colleagues on countless occasions.
His handler, Constable Paul Burns, 45, and Belgian Malinois Wolf, who lives with his family near Nottingham, is now approaching retirement age. Any service dog is from the police, prison services, fire service, Border Force etc. When he retires, the costs of caring for the animal are no longer covered by the government, so keepers must pick up the bill.
Paul and colleagues like him are more than happy to care for their canine counterparts, but the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA) also offers help covering expenses like more needed veterinary care for former working animals.
philanthropy no more launched an appeal To help cover Wolf’s £6,000 relocation fee, whose family hope he can come with them to Perth, Western Australia, where Paul will transfer to work for the police in the city.
☀️ On the longest day of the year, we are launching a call for the devoted and brave police dog PD Wolf, who has been protecting the local people for 8 years. @nottspolice with unwavering loyalty and courage.
After a lifetime of service, his ultimate mission should be simple:… pic.twitter.com/P1pGt3oNYY
— NFRSA (@The_NFRSA) June 21, 2026
The appeal has raised nearly £3,000 since it started on Sunday.
The massive move consumed nearly all of the family’s savings, and the money needed to take Wolf proved too much to raise.
Paul, who moved with his wife Zoe and children Billy, 15, Heidi, 13, and Henry, 11, said: “As a family, we have made the difficult decision to move to Australia, where I will continue my police career and new opportunities await our children.
“Throughout this process, one thing has remained constant: our determination to keep Wolf with us.
“Wolf spent nearly his entire life serving the public. He gave his all to his work, and we can’t bear the thought of him spending his retirement away from the only family he’s ever known. He deserves to enjoy it while surrounded by the people who love him most.”
NFRSA founders Paul, Wolf and Lady Bathurst launch an appeal (Image: Supplied)
Wolf helped put an end to a series of stabbing attacks by a man riding an e-scooter around Mansfield, Notts, in 2023. Although the attacker quickly ran away, Wolf caught him with a knife in his hand and detained him.
“I have no doubt that Wolf prevented more victims that day,” Paul added. “Throughout his career, Wolf tracked dangerous criminals through fields, yards and housing estates, located violent criminals in hiding, detained fleeing suspects in stolen vehicles, and protected officers and the public alike.
“In one memorable arrest, the man pursued a suspect for more than a mile after seriously injuring a member of the public before fleeing. In another incident, Wolf swam into a river to capture the driver of a stolen vehicle who thought he could escape through the water.”
His wife, Zoe, 41, said Wolf was a great partner for her husband at work and an incredible part of the family at home.
She said: “Our children have grown up with Wolf and are facing a huge change in their young lives. We know he will have a lasting impact on them as they adjust to a brand new life on the other side of the world. He certainly wouldn’t understand if we were torn apart as a family.”
Paul, Zoe, Billy, Heidi and Henry with Wolf (Image: Supplied)
Youngest son Henry said Wolf was the only friend he could take with him to Australia. She added: “I don’t remember not having Wolf. We’re leaving all our friends behind and Wolf is the only friend I can take with me. We really want him around so we can feel happy and settle into our new life.”
“We know moving him to Australia is expensive, and asking for help is not something we take lightly. But after a lifetime of service, courage and loyalty, we believe Wolf deserves a retirement where he belongs, with his family.”
Lady Bathurst, Founder and President of the National Trust for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA), said: “For Wolf, this isn’t just a trip to the other side of the world. It’s about ensuring that an extraordinary dog, who has dedicated almost his entire life protecting others, can spend his retirement with the only family he has ever known.
“The support for Paul, Zoe and their children as they step into such a big change in their lives is equally important.
“Paul’s family’s move was expensive and took up much of their life savings.
“The cost of moving Wolf was beyond their reach and I am delighted that Nottinghamshire Police have reached out to NFRSA for help; we will do what we can and hope that together with the support of the public we can ensure this brave boy’s final mission is filled with love, safety and the retirement he has so richly earned.”
NFRSA has donated over £290,000 towards service animals and the charity welcomed its 700th member last week.
Donations to this special appeal can be made at: NFRSA website or through them JustGiving page.
