Police Dog Coty, a multi award winning five-year-old retired K9 officer from Kent Police, is facing the fight of her life. Once among the UK’s top performing police dogs, Coty now requires a critical spinal operation costing £14,000 to save her from being put to sleep. Without the surgery, she will lose all mobility.
The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals – the UK’s largest national charity supporting retired service animals with vet bills, is determined to cover the entire cost of Coty’s operation and aftercare, thanks to the generous donations from the public.
Coty’s story is one of extraordinary service, loyalty, and courage. From the age of just 10 weeks, she began her career with Kent Police and quickly distinguished herself with exceptional intelligence and dedication.
By 2021, Coty had already made a national name for herself – taking part in the G7 Summit in Cornwall, winning categories at the regional and national trials, and achieving outstanding results in tracking and crowd control.
But Coty was more than a champion. She was a frontline asset in major operations – tracking down fleeing suspects across fields, through rivers, and even locating vital DNA evidence in violent crimes. Her tenacity led to multiple arrests and her bravery protected countless lives.
“She was fearless,” says PC Lisa Milligan, Coty’s former handler and now her loving owner. “She lived for the job – always the first to leap into action, to sniff out a clue, to stand between danger and me. She gave everything. And now… She can’t even stand properly on her own.”
Coty’s career was tragically cut short in 2024 when her back legs began to fail. Initial surgery removed two cysts from her spine, offering brief hope. But just after Christmas, Coty collapsed again. Since then, she’s endured months of medical treatment and tests – but her condition continues to worsen.
Now, specialists believe Coty’s only hope is a complex procedure to insert stabilising rods into two areas of her spine. The operation could give her back her mobility – and her chance to enjoy the joyful retirement she so deserves.
“She just wants to run again,” says Lisa, through tears. “To swim, to play, to feel the sun, the grass, and the wind. She’s only five. She deserves more than this. She did so much for me, and I feel helpless not being able to protect her. If it wasn’t for the NFRSA, there would be little hope and that just breaks me. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
The £14,000 surgery is Coty’s last chance – and thanks to the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals, it will happen.
“This is exactly what we are here for,” says The Countess Bathurst, Founder and Chair of the NFRSA. “Our service animals give their lives to our country and communities with unwavering loyalty, and in ways many of us could never possibly comprehend. Coty is no exception, and she deserves every chance we can give her. We are proud to be funding her surgery; and we have been and will be with Lisa every step of the way. But we can only do this with the support of the public.”
The Duchess of York who is Patron to the NFRSA and works tirelessly for the charity, has placed her personal support behind the appeal.
“Our extraordinary service animals are there, protecting each and every one of us on a daily basis,” The Duchess said, “Coty’s tragic story reminds us of their dedication. I hope the entire country gets behind this beautiful police dog, whose shining career has been cut so tragically short.”
“My love goes out to Coty, to Lisa and her husband, and I hope everyone will donate to the NFRSA’s worthy appeal, so they every chance to enjoy their futures as a family.”
The NFRSA is a UK charity that helps retired police, fire, prison, NCA, border force, MOD police, and NHS service animals whose funding stops the day their careers come to an end. The charity assists with medical bills to ensure these animals can enjoy the happy retirement they’ve earned – without putting emotional or financial strain on their families.
To date, the NFRSA has nearly 500 retired animals registered with the organisation and has already gifted over £150,000 in grants since its launch in 2022 – including 85 grants so far in 2025 alone, supporting animals from Scotland, to Northern Ireland, to Wales, to the Southwest, the South, and to the East of the UK as well as across central areas like West Midlands Police.
Lady Bathurst continues: “There has been recent comment in the press about the provision of pensions for police dogs, and while in an ideal world, this would be helpful – the truth of the matter is, it’s entirely impractical when the public purse is already as stretched as it is. And even if provided – there is no guarantee it would last, thereby placing thousands of animals in jeopardy if it were to be withdrawn – which we all know unfortunately could happen.”
“Coty is a shining example of how the current system works – independent local charities, working closely in friendly teamwork with the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals, and run by people who are passionate about what they do, concentrating on simply being there for our retired service animals. That really is the bottom line.”
“We are doing everything we can for Coty, but it’s the people who give, share, and support us who are also the real heroes now. We would be so grateful if our wonderful animal-loving British public could please help us to give Coty her Golden Years by donating what they can to help us reach our target. Every penny will make a difference.”
