The police dogs of the St Petersburg Police K9 unit have been in our thoughts lately, largely due in part to the recent, tragic loss of Officer Yaslowitz. We had the privilege of working with both him and his canine partner, “Ace”, as we have the honor of providing veterinary care for the dogs of the St Petersburg Police K9 unit. In commemoration, we'd like to share what goes into being a police dog in general, though this information may not apply to the St Petersburg Police K9 unit specifically.
The first step in a police dog's career is training to become an expert at basic obedience. They cannot hesitate to obey the commands of their handler.
A police dog candidate must also be able to make it through endurance and agility training. They must be able to jump over walls and climb stairs.
After meeting these goals, each dog then receives specialty training, whether it is to search for drugs, bombs or guns. Police dogs can also be trained to track suspects or missing persons. They have proved invaluable in locating missing children.
In St Petersburg, before graduating, the dogs must complete a rigorous four-month K-9 training school with their human partner, where they learn how to track suspects, complete building searches and search open fields. By the end of training, the two have developed a remarkable bond, creating a strong partnership.
Two commonly used breeds for police dogs are the German Shepherd and the Belgian Malinois, most often purchased from Europe. European dogs are felt to be more of a working dog than the show dogs bred in the United States. Many begin their careers at about 14-18 months of age and can have a career until they reach 7-10 years old. Retired police dogs often continue to reside with their partners.
In many jurisdictions the intentional injuring or killing of a police dog is a felony, resulting in harsher penalties than those laid out in local animal cruelty laws, just as an assault on a police officer is often more serious of an offense than an assault on a civilian.
The money for a city's Police K9 Unit often comes from the proceeds of the sales of seized goods, or from donations from the community. The dogs cost the St Petersburg Police Department between $6,500 and $10,000, and require only $3,000 annual maintenance once they're trained. The value of protection they provide the city, however, is priceless.
If you would like to show your support to the families of Officers Crawford, Yaslowitz, and Baitinger, Suncoast Law Enforcement Charities is accepting donations on behalf of the fallen officers. You can send contributions to 14141 46th Street North, Suite 1205, Clearwater, FL 33762.
Comments