Police Dogs: Drug Detection, Patrol, Tracking, Trailing, Article Search, Search and Rescue, Cadaver Dogs, and Explosive Detection Dogs. Police Dogs like their human partners, are programmed to "eat, sleep, protect, ...repeat". But somewhere, during the course of business, a bond is formed. All dog lovers know the joy and enrichment that a dog can bring to a human's life. That bond is precious and irreplaceable. All K-9 handlers know these things as well. But a K9 handler also realizes the purpose of a Police Service Dog: to first and foremost, serve and protect people, even if it requires the ultimate sacrifice. (It can be a hard business). That realization tends to add a unique element to the relationship between K9 and handler. Along the same lines of soldiers that share a foxhole in battle, the willingness to sacrifice and the commitment to protect are an absolute must. This non-profit fund was created for the sole purpose of providing added protection for our four legged companions that protect us every day.

Many canine units across the country operate on very limited budgets. Most police agencies absorb the cost of food, housing, and normal veterinary maintenance. Additionally, that limited budget is expected to absorb the cost of unpredictable emergency medical care. As a result, financial priorities are also based on the concerns of the many, outweighing the concern of the few. It is just a cold hard fact that not all surgical procedures can be supported. Logical choices must be made with consideration to logistical ramifications for the entire unit..

Even as dog lovers, WE completely understand the difficulty of these choices

In June of 2007 the NEED of the INJURED POLICE DOG was addressed through the Calvert Animal Welfare League.
THAT NEED is a follows:
In most situations, care for the Police Dog is provided by his or her handler and financed through his or her agency. The majority of police service dogs are trained in one or two disciplines and utilized for those duties until they reach the age of retirement (approximately 8 years old). Upon retirement, the police dog is often donated from the agency to the handler to live out his or her days at the police officer's residence (remaining a part of "the pack"/family). Upon the K9's retirement, the police officer/handler is then solely responsible for all financial concerns. The handler and his or her family provide the financing for all food, housing, and medical care. In most cases, the K9's retirement is a simple transition from work dog to family pet. In those cases, transitions are usually smooth and the related costs are easily absorbed.

BUT, in certain situations, the dog is still in his or her prime, only four or five years old. In some situations, the police dog is injured and can not be or will not be returned to serviceability. In some cases surgical correction is not an option.

In some cases when it is an option, the surgery is considered too risky or it is deemed NOT COST EFFECTIVE for the department. In those situations, logistical concerns often outway the emotional concerns. In cases when it is more cost effective to purchase and train a new (young/healthy) dog, the injured police dog is retired. In some of those situations, the injured police dog is a good candidate for corrective surgery but the surgical procedures are deemed too expensive. The agency donates the dog to the handler and it is then the handler's decision/responsibility to finance the continued medical care. Surgical procedures are often very expensive. Costs related to specialized treatment, testing, and surgery can exceed $5000 to $7000. Any/every K9 handler would want to provide the best of care for their K9 partner, but many handlers just can not afford it.

THIS FUND has been established to provide financial assistance in such cases. This fund is the only one of its type. This fund is intended to assist the handler and the injured police dog, to improve and maintain the policed dog's quality of life. This fund is not intended to supplement any police department's budget or relieve that department's responsibility to the dog. This fund to provide an avenue of assitance in qualified cases-- when the injured policed dog is in dire need of financial support.

It is requested by the Calvert Animal Welfare League and its board of advisors that you HELP PROTECT THOSE... THAT PROTECT YOU. Support the Injured Police Dog Fund

Before now, no specific means of financial assistance was available for an injured police dog.

In extreme situations where and agency and handler could not afford expensive medical treatment, the police dog would be immediately retired or possibly even "put down."

Even with the support of compassionate medical providers and various volunteer groups, there was no specific fund or organization intended to champion the cause of the injured K9 in need.

The ZimMiki- Injured Police Dog Fund has been created in the fighting spirit of K9 Zim and in the loving memory of our fallen K9 Miki. Hopefully this fund will succeed and continue to exist as a means of support for injured police dogs throughout the country.

Please help