Law enforcement officers and police dogs deserve our support
There are approximately 50,000 active police K9s in the United States. These highly trained dogs help seize drugs, sniff out explosives, detain criminals, locate missing people, and uncover forensic evidence at crime scenes. There are also countless stories of police K9s making the ultimate sacrifice to defend officers, protect civilians, and save lives. Police dogs are trusted partners for police and law enforcement officers, represent an integral component of many police departments, and contribute immensely to public safety.
However, police K9s are expensive, and this is a major barrier for police departments searching to add a four-legged deputy to their teams. Some estimates suggest that police dogs, on average, can cost anywhere between $15,000 and $45,000, and training them can top $10,000. Not to mention that feeding these dogs and keeping them healthy are also costly endeavors often covered out of pocket by the dogs’ handlers. It’s unacceptable. Police departments are already facing hiring challenges and police officers themselves face higher levels of burnout and stress compared to other fields; they shouldn’t be expected to empty their wallets to cover the costs of maintaining police K9s to defend our communities.
That’s why I introduced the Honoring Police Officer and K9 Service Act. According to Paws of Honor – a national police dog organization – approximately 40% of the lifetime veterinary expenses for police dogs occur in the last two years of their lives, which means that the handler could expect $5,000 or more in veterinary bills after a K9 has retired. These costs cannot simply be transferred to the officer at the end of a police dog’s career.
To alleviate the financial strain facing K9 handlers, this legislation – which came to life following my conversations with police and law enforcement officers in Iowa – would help police departments pay for routine checkups and other veterinary care for police dogs after they retire. Due to their demanding work, police K9s face higher risks of developing illnesses like hip dysplasia, arthritis, and separation anxiety – all of which require high-quality, and potentially costly, veterinary care – and our local officers should not be saddled with these expenses.
More specifically, this bill would authorize $5 million for a grant program through the U.S. Department of Justice and coordinated by the Attorney General to help ease the significant financial commitment of caring for police dogs and covering veterinary bills. By supporting small and rural police departments – which often lack the funding of larger, urban operations – my legislation also has the potential to encourage police departments to add a police dog to their team when calculating the financial obligations.
Furthermore, the Honoring Police Officer and K9 Service Act includes guardrails to protect taxpayers and ensure that the appropriated dollars are spent appropriately and responsibly. Under this legislation, any grant recipient would be required to deliver a detailed annual report to the Attorney General’s office demonstrating how funds were used, and the Attorney General would then submit a comprehensive report to Congress outlining that taxpayer dollars were spent in accordance with the law. These measures promote transparency and accountability in government and ensure that only police departments in need receive resources to accommodate a police dog.
Our police officers and their K9 partners are heroes who risk their lives daily to protect our families and communities. I strongly urge the passage of this legislation to honor our law enforcement officers and ensure that police dogs receive the high-quality, dependable care that they deserve during their service and after their retirement.
This op-ed was originally published in the Washington Times on March 22, 2024.