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| What is a police dog? What kind of training is required? A properly trained and handled Police K-9 is one of the best non-lethal aids in the prevention and detection of crime. The dogs start training at about 18 months and must pass a certification test. The USPCA PDI certification is a test of all the abilities a properly trained service dog should perform. Types of service include; Police Work, Tracking, Rescue, Patrol Narcotics/explosive detection. All dogs must still meet minimum training hours each month after certification and re-certify 2x a year in each of their disciplines. What breeds of dogs are used? The most common breed used is the German Shepherd Dog. Another breed frequently seen is the Belgian Malinois. Most police departments want a dog that can be a "dual-purpose" police dog. This means a dog that can be a Patrol K-9 plus one other area of expertise, such as narcotics or bomb detection. Both breeds have a high percentage of dogs that exhibit the desired traits for a dual purpose police K-9: trainability, confidence around people and new places. Many drug dogs are Golden Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, Border Collies and Dutch Shepherd. What kind of tests do they go through in order to be considered a Police K-9 Candidate? 1. Gunfire tolerance: does not display fear or over reactive aggression. 2. Confidence on variable surfaces (different floorings, stairs, obstacles) and confidence and tolerance with people/things in different environments ( shopping malls, around bicycles, motorists, horses). 3. Health Screening including hip and elbow x-rays 4. Play drive 5. Good Temperament with low aggression level toward other dogs and animals 6. Intelligence: willingness to learn and cooperate with handler and ability to discern a situation 7. Heart and Courage How many years do they serve? The average years of service are 8. The average retirement age is 10 +/- years. What are some of the things they are trained to do? Police Dogs are taught to do the following: • Search buildings and areas for unauthorized persons. • Track criminals and search for Alzheimer's patients, lost children, etc. • Search for evidence dropped by fleeing criminals. • Pursue and apprehend, with minimum force, criminals fleeing a serious crime. • Apprehend on command and in Protection of the Handler. Some dogs have further training in narcotic or bomb detection, cadaver work and others are trained in the specific needs of their department e.g. Fish & Game. How many police dogs are in Polk County? There are 58 canine officers serving Polk County. The Sheriff has the biggest number (14) and the cities Auburndale, Bartow, Haines City, Lake Wales, Lakeland and Winter Haven have K-9 units too. What happens to them when they retire? Dogs are retired due to age, illness or injury. Occasionally, if their handler is promoted or transferred, the dog will be retired. Most are adopted by their handler or in rare instances, adopted out to a civilian experienced in dog handling. Do they receive a pension? No. Upon retirement the handler assumes all costs and there is no retirement fund. The dogs will receive a full funeral honors if they die protecting their handler or an innocent citizen .However, if they sustain any extensive injuries while performing their duties they could be "retired" and the law enforcement agency will no longer provide any health care for them. In some instances if the handler does not adopt the dog they could be euthanized. What kind of financial burden do the retired dog owners face? The handler must have a new homeowner's insurance policy for this dog since he is no longer city property. He must assume the food bills ($500 a year), vet bills ($1000) and any other problem or need that arises. In addition they need to carry homeowners insurance since these dogs are not city property any longer. Why should we care for retired police dogs? Police officers are public servants who risk their lives to protect the public. After their careers are over and retirement age comes around, they look forward to rest, relaxation and the enjoyment of a pension that a life of labor has provided...the same should be true for their canine counterparts! Police K-9's deserve to have a retirement that will provide them with safety, security and much needed veterinary care in their golden years. Is this the right way to treat a hero? In many jurisdictions the intentional injury or killing of a police dog is a felony. The perpetrator may be charged the same as if a human officer were injured or killed. Furthermore, a police dog killed in the line of duty is traditionally given a full police funeral/burial just as they would for a human officer. Everybody agrees that police dogs are heroes but, a social injustice is committed when the dog is retired; the handler must assume the full care of this now aging and arthritic dog or the dog may be euthanized. At K-9 for life we believe that these dogs are due some respect and gratitude for risking their lives and breaking their bodies in the pursuit of justice for our society. It is only fair to take care of their basic health needs in their golden years. |
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