An animal welfare campaigner is pushing for tougher jail terms for anyone convicted of injuring or killing a service dog in Northern Ireland.
The dogs in question undertake essential duties within the PSNI, the harbour and airport police services, and alongside the agencies called in by the PSNI and Fire Service for search, rescue and recovery purposes.
Bernadette Vassallo from Co Down, successfully drove a law change for service animals in Northern Ireland, during the current Stormont hiatus and had removed the motives of 'self defence' or 'fear' for lashing out at a service dog causing injury or danger.,
