From Canine to K-9: The Plight of Police Dogs – GWC Mag

Often, we hear heartwarming stories about police officers and other law enforcement officials rescuing, and even adopting, animals in need. However, there is a darker side to law enforcement’s relationship with animals, particularly dogs. Although law enforcement is instrumental in stopping animal cruelty, the use of K-9 dogs is often frowned upon by animal rights activists for many reasons. K-9 dogs are used by police departments around the world for a variety of work. Their keen sense of smell may be used to uncover bombs or narcotics. They may also be used to subdue or apprehend those suspected of committing crimes. K-9s are also used as search and rescue dogs who can locate missing people. Yet despite their heroics, the lives of K-9s have an often overlooked dark side. Breeding for K-9 programs, abusive training and treatment, long-term behavioral or health effects, and high risk of injury and death are all some dangers facing K-9s. 

Breeding

K-9 dogs are bred specifically for service. Trainers look for specific temperaments, natural abilities, physical characteristics, and trainability. However, this means that some puppies do not meet these stringent requirements. These puppies may wind up at rescues, or shelters. This contributes to the overpopulation of companion animals. Additionally, many of the breeds used for police dog work are the victims of breed bans. This can make it difficult for these puppies to be placed in homes, due to stereotypes surrounding their breeds. 

Dogs commonly bred for K-9 work include  German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Bloodhounds. These dogs are specifically selected for their capabilities. However, like other purebred dogs, inbreeding can lead to an increased likelihood of certain genetic conditions. For example, German Shepherd dogs often develop hip problems throughout their lives. 

Abusive Training and Treatment

Although it is not considered routine, abusive training methods are sometimes used to teach K-9s how to perform their job. In June 2020, seven people were arrested in the Netherlands after video footage showed them severely abusing dogs that were being trained for police work. Video evidence shows them kicking, shocking, and beating the dogs. There was another case of K-9 abuse caught on camera in 2021. In this case, video footage showed an officer from California’s Vacaville Police Department assaulting a K-9. While most K-9 trainees frown on these methods and advocate for training through positive reinforcement, these instances of abuse cannot be ignored.

K-9s who do not display the requisite personality or skills can also “fail out” of training. Some dogs even fail for being too friendly! However, the dogs that fail out of training then need to be placed in homes where they can live out the rest of their days. Sadly, K-9 training leaves some of these dogs with behavior issues that may make it difficult for them to find homes. These failed K-9s then run the risk of being euthanized. 

Sometimes, even worse things can happen to them, as proved by the tragic case of Captain. Captain was a young German Shepherd who failed out of K-9 training for being too gentle. However, the person who adopted Captain after he left the program severely abused the dog. In 2012, residents in Vancouver, Canada discovered Captain after he had been left in a dumpster. The German Shepherd had been so badly abused that he was paralyzed. Only two years old, Captain had endured an unimaginable amount of cruelty in his short life. He died of cardiac arrest the day after he was discovered. When the horrible human who abused him was sentenced he claimed that, due to his training, Captain was so aggressive that the human was afraid of him. Even though Captain failed K-9 training for being too gentle, this awful human claimed that he was aggressive. This horrific instance shows one of the tragedies that may befall K-9 recruits who “fail out” of training programs.

In addition to sometimes abusive training, K-9s may experience other horrible treatment. They are sometimes kept kenneled when they are not working. In September 2021, the Los Angeles Police Department came under fire for keeping some K-9s kenneled for days at a time. Two police dogs were found to be kept kenneled for up to 72 hours at a time by the police officer tasked with their care. They received only 10 to 15 minutes outside each day. Disturbingly, the officer claimed that all police dogs are kept kenneled when off duty. Although evidence does not exist to Support these claims, it indicates a level of disregard for the dogs’ well-being outside of their usefulness to the police force.  Excessive kenneling deprives these dogs of the chance to live a normal life. Indeed, if they are not kept in climate-controlled areas, their lives may be at risk. 

K-9s are not safe from abuse while they are working either. There have also been multiple instances of K-9s dying after being left in hot cars. In June of 2023, as heat waves swept the nation, a Texas police dog named Aron passed away after he was left inside a hot patrol car. Aron’s death was the second such death that week alone.

High-Risk Work

K-9s are often used for work that is deemed too dangerous to send in human officers. This could include bomb detection, detaining an armed suspect, or entering contaminated spaces. This puts the dogs at high risk. Animal rights advocates point out that since dogs cannot speak human languages, they cannot consent to being placed in these situations. The use of K-9s for especially dangerous work shows a disregard for the animals’ lives and well-being.

It has also been shown that dogs have a higher mortality rate than human officers in some situations. For example, suspects are more likely to kill a dog than a human to avoid being apprehended. 

Even dogs who are not used to bringing in suspects face risks as part of their jobs. Search and rescue dogs may be tasked with entering environments that may prove detrimental to their long-term health. They may develop cancer or other diseases as a result of being exposed to these environments.

Another argument against the use of K-9s is their negative impact on certain populations. K-9s are highly trained to respond to commands from their handlers. They are sometimes used in crowd control or ordered to attack innocent individuals. While this is not the fault of the dogs, but rather the human officials and system they are being directed by, it is an important argument against the use of K-9s.

Retirement

K-9 dogs often have highly demanding, physical jobs. This means that at a certain point, they are often retired. This usually occurs between the ages of seven and eleven years. Unfortunately, after a life of police work some dogs find it difficult to integrate into the role of family pet.

Before 2000, K-9s were euthanized after being retired. However, President Bill Clinton passed Robby’s Law, which made it possible for retired K-9s to be adopted. Heartbreakingly, this has not altogether ended the euthanization of police dogs. In 2013, it was revealed that 84 former K-9s had been euthanized in the United Kingdom, even though families had expressed willingness to adopt the dogs. Luckily, euthanizations such as these have become much more rare. Many retired police dogs go to live with their handler for the remainder of their lives. Others are adopted by persons approved by the police department. 

Currently, K-9 dogs continue to be used in the United States, and other countries around the world. Carefully selected dogs are bred and trained to fulfill specific roles within these law enforcement agencies. Yet these dogs are unable to consent to their roles and are often sent into highly hazardous conditions. Several police dogs have died in 2023 alone. A Police Dog named Sir died after being shot by a gunman in San Diego. After the air-conditioner in the truck they were on malfunctioned, several dogs died in Indiana as well. These are not the only instances of K-9 deaths this year. It is time to do away with K-9 dogs and begin investigating alternatives that protect both humans and canines. 

Sign this petition to Demand Justice for K-9s!

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