'OBEs' For Riot Hero Police Dog and Horses

Ten Metropolitan Police horses and a dog have been honoured for their actions during the London riots in August 2011.

They have all received the PDSA Order of Merit - the animal equivalent of an OBE - in recognition of their outstanding acts of devotion.

The inaugural awards, introduced by the veterinary charity PDSA, were presented by its patron, HRH Princess Alexandra, at a ceremony in London.

According to the citation, the horses were confronted with burning buildings and falling debris during the disturbances. They were also hit by "countless" bricks thrown by rioters.

Horses Laurel (L) and Boris showed exceptional courage

But despite the heat, noise and chaos, the horses stood their ground, helping to restore order and enable firefighters to reach burning buildings and check if anyone was still inside.

Two police horses in particular, Boris and Laurel, were said to have shown outstanding courage by leading the way into the dense, acrid smoke.

Metropolitan Police dogs were also called into action during the disturbances in various locations around the capital.

Liinpol Luke with his handler PC Phil Wells

Like the horses, they had missiles thrown at them and in some cases were badly injured.

One, Linpol Luke - affectionately known as Obi by officers - suffered a fractured skull.

He received an 'OBE' on behalf of all of the dogs that served during the riots.

Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector Ade Adelekan said: "We are honoured that our horses and dogs are to be the first recipients of the PDSA Order of Merit.

"Had it not been for the deployment of police animals, their handlers and riders across London, there would have been significantly more harm caused to our communities."

PDSA Director General, Jan McLoughlin, said: "Today we pay tribute to some truly exceptional acts of devotion. The extreme situations these animals faced exceeded anything they had experienced before."

Formed in 1917, PDSA is the UK's biggest veterinary charity. It has 51 pet hospitals across the country that provide care for over 470,000 animals a year.

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