What happens to a police K9 after retirement?
Police K9s’ work tirelessly to protect and serve their communities. Just like other officers on the force, K9s risk their lives every day, facing potential injury and even death. And, just like their handlers and others at their department, they also eventually retire. But what happens to a K9 after retirement? Let’s take a look.
Why do police dogs retire and when?
As police dogs get older, they start to slow down. With the shorter lifespans of dogs, K9s tend to retire anywhere between the age of seven and eleven. Some of the problems a police dog might face in retirement include negative behaviors they might have picked up from the stress of their job, such as aggression, PTSD, and separation anxiety. This makes it hard to adopt them out to just anybody.
Barbaric practices of the past
In the past, once a police K9 retired, they were usually euthanized. This is because the dogs were viewed as government property and so the government did with them as they saw fit – which often ended up being whatever was easiest or most cost-effective.
Robby’s Law
In 2000, Robby’s Law changed everything. Signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton, the law required the Department of Defense to facilitate the adoption of retired military working dogs and other K9s by a member of law enforcement, a former handler, or another qualified member of the public.
Who can adopt a K9?
To qualify for the adoption of a retired police K9, you still have to pass a few, stringent tests. First off, the home where the K9 will be living has to meet the standards set by the department, though this can vary based on the type of dog. You must also be able to devote the time and have the financial resources for the proper care of your newly adopted K9. You must also be able to cope with the rigors sometimes associated with a retired K9 as many suffer from psychological issues associated with their time in service. This means you must be of a stable mind.
Mission K9 Rescue
Organizations such as Mission K9 Rescue have made it their mission to rescue retired K9s and try to reunite them with their former handlers, if possible. If a handler is not willing or not available, the organization will seek out other qualified individuals to adopt the K9 instead.
The organization also seeks to help rehabilitate retired K9s, working with the dogs to help them deal with any psychological issues that they might have following their time with the police department. For more on the organization and all that they do to help retired K9s, check out the organization’s Facebook page.
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To apply to adopt one of Mission K9 Rescue’s dogs, visit the organization’s Website to begin the application process. The organization will work with you to make sure you and the retired K9 are a perfect fit. Once you are approved, you may be well on your way to providing a loving home for one of these retiring heroes.