Mike Tindall has made a heartfelt plea from his Gloucestershire home in support of retired military and police dogs.
The former rugby star, 46, shared a personal video urging the public to support Hero Paws, a charity dedicated to helping service dogs transition into civilian life.
Mike said: “Everyone knows that I am a patron of Rugby for Heroes, which helps our men and women transitioning out of military life into civil life.
“But there is also a little charity called Hero Paws, which helps our canine heroes make their transition out of military life.”
Mike Tindall has made a heartfelt plea from his Gloucestershire home in support of retired military and police dogs
Getty
The father-of-three, who owns three dogs with wife Zara Tindall, emphasised the specialised needs of these highly-trained animals in their retirement.
In the video, Tindall explained how Hero Paws provides vital support for service dogs during their retirement transition.
He said: “What Hero Paws does is provide support for both the military and police dogs to make their transition from their military to their retirement and their civilian life.
“They help with things like vet bills and fostering of our canine veterans.”
The former rugby star added: “As you can imagine, they are quite specialised in what their needs are, so please help this great little charity continue to do their amazing work and help our little canine heroes.”
The video was filmed from inside Mike and Zara’s farmhouse on Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate, where they currently reside along with their three children and three dogs – Storm, Pepper and Blink.
The property is thought to be worth a staggering £6million.
The cause is particularly personal for Mike, who revealed on the Oh My Dog podcast in 2024 that one of his rare moments of crying came after losing his beloved dogs, Misty and Cawley.
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Led by former military dog handler Jaime Garner, Hero Paws comprises ex-military dog handlers and former Royal Army Veterinary Corps members
Hero Paws
Hero Paws was established by three former military dog handlers, including Jaime Garner, who identified gaps in the aftercare standards for retired service dogs.
The team now comprises ex-military dog handlers and former Royal Army Veterinary Corps members.
The Scotland-based charity, which operates across the UK, focuses on helping these specialist dogs from all military services and police forces to adjust to civilian life, particularly those that have served in war zones around the world.
The charity provides comprehensive support, including assistance with expensive veterinary operations and ongoing retirement care.
Hero Paws has ambitious plans to create a purpose-built sanctuary in Scotland, offering retired service dogs spacious grounds to enjoy their retirement years.