Dogs have been used to help man in battle as far back as the Egyptian era. The term K-9 as used with dogs, became popular in the 40's during world war two. With the help of the American Kennel Club, and patriotic public, dogs were donated to the US Army. These dogs saved the lives of a number of soldiers in combat. The dogs were trained as sentry dogs, scout or patrol dogs, messenger dogs, and to help sniff out land mine's.
So it was only natural that when the war was over, the handler's and their dog's were a good addition to law enforcement agencies' world wide.
We have all seen these wonderful dogs in action at the scene of the World Trade Center after the terrible act of terrorism, helping to rescue and find victims of all nationalities.
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(Photo: Sep 13, 2001, AP / Stephen Chernin)
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A police dog and her handler weave through the debris where the WTC south tower once stood. Rescue dogs like this one are trained to detect traces of sweat and other musky odors exuded by the body during stress.
They are also able to distinguish between the living and the dead.
(Photo: Sep 13, 2001, AP / Stephen Chernin)
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(AP Photo/FEMA, Andrea Booher)
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An unidentified member of an Urban Search and Rescue team works with a dog Saturday in the effort to uncover victims. Shifts of about 20 dogs are working on the toppled buildings site in New York. After their shifts, they are bathed and checked for dehydration, chemical inhalation, and other potential dangers.
(AP Photo/FEMA, Andrea Booher)
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Yet many of these brave dogs that lay their lives on the line every day, protecting the public and their partners, go unprotected. Many K-9 dogs have no bullet proof and stab proof vests. It is sad that the communities that benefit from the K-9 dogs do not have the money to buy the vests. The cost of the vest is high, about 600-700 dollars. But the considering the cost of training the dogs and their handler's, it does not make sense to leave them unprotected.
If your community cannot afford the vests, there may be an organization near you that can help. Check with your local police department to see if there is a non profit organization that you can contribute to. If there isn't, maybe you can start one. See the links below for non profit organizations. Many will help you.
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Links to great sites about the K-9 dogs, and K-9 units
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Our goal is to provide these services utilizing preexisting emergency responders such as Police Officers, Firefighters, Paramedics and EMT's. All these men and woman will have the highest possible level of training, integrity and professionalism.
Once our teams have completed training and have been certified as operationally ready, they will be placed into active duty and will be utilized as a mutual-aid resource for Police, Fire and other Rescue Organizations regardless of size, location or finchanal ability.
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strives to enhance the use of police work dogs by law enforcement agencies through continuing education in the form of local, state, and national workshops, held periodically throughout the year.
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The Connecticut Police Work Dog Association was established in 1991, to assist, unite and promote police service dogs in the State of Connecticut. This organization was established to enhance the training, education and overall working performance of our police canine teams.
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The United States Police K-9 Association
is a non-profit organization striving for the establishment of minimum standards for Police K-9 dogs through proper methods of training.
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Abilene, Texas
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Non profit organizations that help to buy police dogs bullet proof and stab resistant vests.
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Many communities do not have the money to provide their K-9 dogs with these life saving vest's.
All over, volunteers are creating non profit organizations to raise money to buy the vest's for their area.
Here are a few that are to be commended for their outstanding work.
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- Arizona
- Protect Police K-9 - Run by Michael Valdez
- California
- Vest-A-Dog Program - Run by Stephanie Taylor
- Connecticut
- Vest-A-Dog Program - Run by Christina Poryanda
- Florida
- Pennies to Protect Police Dogs - Founded by Stacey Hillman
- Kentucky
- Vest-A-K-9 - Run by Stephanie
- Maine
- Vest-A-Dog Program - Run by Kelly Davis
- Massachusetts
- Vest-A-Dog Program - Run by Kathy & Lisa Hinds
- New Hampshire
- Vest-A-Dog Program
- New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Working Dog Foundation / K-9 Vesting Program
- Rhode Island
- Vest-A-Dog Program - Run by Denise Anthony
- Texas
- The German Shepard Dog Club of Houston
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About K-9 dogs, the history of
