Santa Rosa Deputies attend K-9 training in Okaloosa
K9s United, a national nonprofit dedicated to advocating for and supporting K9 law enforcement officers, hosted a free four-day training seminar at the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office for more than 70 K9 teams and EMS professionals. The teams traveled from Alabama and California and across Florida for a customized training that encompassed high-level problem-solving and animal care practices to best protect and serve their communities.
The training featured a 70-pound simulated canine that barks, bleeds and breathes like a real working police dog. These hands-on scenarios aim to increase a K9 officer’s chance of survival on the front line by educating K9 handlers and EMS professionals on the dog’s anatomy and physiology, combat and environmental injuries, treatment protocols, among other life-saving techniques K9s may require in a moment’s notice.
Attending Agencies:
Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office (Alabama)
Covington County Sheriff’s Office (Alabama)
Defuniak Police Department (Florida)
Florida Highway Patrol
Fort Walton Beach Police Department (Florida)
Gainesville Police Department (Florida)
Grove Hill Police Department (Alabama)
Gulf Shore Police Department (Alabama)
Loxley Police Department (Alabama)
Mobile Police Department (Alabama)
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (Florida)
Orange County Sheriff’s Office (Florida)
Pensacola Police Department (Florida)
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office (California)
Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office (Florida)
Saraland Police Department (Alabama)
Walton County Sheriff’s Office (Florida)
Why It’s Important:
Many law enforcement agencies do not have the funding needed to provide their K9 units with the vital resources they require, including advanced training, kennels and equipment. Additionally, K9s United actively advocates for federal legislation and has successfully helped pass two bills into Florida law that help protect and serve these selfless working dogs.
How to Get Involved and Donate:Every dollar donated to K9s United supports its mission to educate, train and provide vital equipment and services to K9 teams. To help K9s United support law enforcement, their K9 units and build safer communities for generations to come, join the K9 Corps to make a lasting impact.
Florida drivers can also support K9s United and their local canine crime fighters by pre-ordering the nonprofit’s specialty license plate. The license plate costs $34 and will go into production once 3,000 have been pre-sold. Twenty five dollars from each license plate helps support, protect and advocate for the community’s voiceless defenders.
