Training K9s for police work is no easy or cheap feat. The K9s in the unit come from highly reputable breeders, usually overseas, who sell the dog to a training facility where the dog is trained in basic obedience and their specific domain, whether that be bomb detection, narcotics detection, tracking, etc. That training facility will then sell the fully trained dog to the police department. A fully trained K9 can run upwards of $15,000. The cost is well worth it, though, Hanna says. \u201cThey tell us, without even verbalizing it, so many things that we would never, ever know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the K9s are taken home daily by their handlers, but Goose and Yogi are currently housed at the facility, mainly due to conflicts with HOAs. Many HOAs won\u2019t allow the outdoor shelter required for these K9s, so the K9 department is trying to work out a new proposal to the city to allow pop-up crates inside the home instead. Hanna would love to bring Goose home each day, but for now, they have established a routine that works for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They start each day with their morning stroll, followed by breakfast and some basic obedience training. Then, they\u2019ll head out on patrol and help different officers with anything they need, whether it’s attending traffic stops to search for narcotics or tracking an armed robbery suspect; no day is the same. Hanna notes that the K9s act as a valuable tool when apprehending suspects. In fact, she and Goose have never been involved in a contact apprehension, but they have had multiple non-contacts where the guilty party has peacefully surrendered \u2013 no officers got hurt, no dog got hurt, no suspect got hurt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While on call, the K9s are driven in special vehicles outfitted specifically for the dog. All the K9 cars are equipped with monitoring systems that can message and call officers’ phones. If there were ever a malfunction with the vehicle, it would call 911, the car alarms would start blaring, the blue lights would flash, and all the windows would roll down to ensure the dog was safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important to note that the relationship between a K9 handler and their dog extends well beyond professional duty. These dogs become part of the handler\u2019s family, integrating into their daily lives and forming deep emotional bonds. \u201cWe put in so much work and constant training that people never see. Our entire lives revolve around these dogs\u2026Every single waking moment, that\u2019s your best friend. They become a family member, and they become integrated into your life. And we love our dogs dearly, we truly do,\u201d says Hanna. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is evident in the way retired dogs continue to live with their handlers, enjoying a well-deserved rest after years of service. For instance, K9 Daisy, who retired at the age of ten, still enjoys daily walks and visits the station occasionally with her handler, Shon, who now has Goggles. Once a dog is retired, the handler can choose to reapply with the K9 unit and be assigned a new dog, or the handler can move outside the unit to try to ascend in rank within the police department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese dogs, just like yours sitting at home right now, bring so much joy to the department. They make everyone\u2019s day better. Just like any other dog, they walk up to you with wagging tails and want to be loved,\u201d says Hanna. \u201cThat\u2019s their biggest concern in life\u2026their person and their toy.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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