A police dog injured during violent disorder in Southport has retired from service.
Zoe needed stitches after suffering a laceration to her leg during disorder involving hundreds of people on 30 July.
Mersey Police Dogs said the animal was now “fit and well” but added it would “never ask our dogs to do something they no longer want to do”.
Rioting erupted in Southport a day after three girls were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July, with more than 50 police officers injured during the disorder.
Mersey Police Dogs tweeted: “We are sad to announce that following the violent disorder in Southport, PD (Police Dog) Zoe is to retire from service.
“Zoe is fit and well but we will never ask our dogs to do something they no longer want to do.
“Thank you for your bravery and service, we wish you all the happiness in retirement.”
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Following the disorder Merseyside Police said a dog named Ike was “recovering after sustaining a cut mouth and swelling to his front leg”.
It said another, named Quga, had “suffered burns to her back leg”.
A fourth police dog, named Repo, was spared injury after its handler kicked away petrol.
Mersey Police Dogs said it had “no words for how our officers and dogs were targeted”, adding “our police dogs demonstrated extreme bravery and did all they could to assist colleagues under a sustained and violent attack”.
In an update last week it said Quga had “finally been reunited with her handler after a slow recovery”.
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Mersey Police Dogs added: “Following a trip to the vets she has been given the all clear and will hopefully be back fighting crime and hunting down criminals soon.”
