THE MP for the Vale of Clwyd met a now legendary police dog in support of a bill to increase sentencing for animal cruelty cases to a maximum of five years.

The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act was named Finns Law after German Shepherd Finn was stabbed through the lung while protecting handler PC Dave Wardell in Hertfordshire in 2016.

It was introduced as a Private Member’s Bill by Hertfordshire MP Sir Oliver Heald and became an active law in England and Wales in June last year, making it harder for those who harm service animals to claim they were acting in self-defence.

There have been a number of convictions using Finns Law but Finn and PC Wardell were promised a second part would raise the sentence for animal welfare and cruelty cases from six months to five years, and they are now pushing for this to happen.

PC Wardell said the additional law would give the 2016 act “teeth” to prosecute offenders.

Dr Davies met with the duo to support their quest, which he said would create an “effectual deterrent”.

“It was a great pleasure to meet Finn and his owner Dave who have both become legendary across the UK, not only for their part in getting Finns Law introduced, but also for their appearance on Britain’s Got Talent,” he said.

“Clearly, no law-abiding person wishes to see service animals injured in the course of their duties and it is therefore reassuring that they are now better protected. However, I agree that the sentencing should be increased.

“What Finn endured three years ago was incredibly upsetting. It is therefore vital that we do everything we can to prevent further cases like this and I’m confident that increasing the sentencing would be an effectual deterrent.”