Adam Block, a junior at Palmer Trinity School and founder of the South Florida Fund for Retired Law Enforcement K-9s, was awarded a grant for the amount of $10,000 from the Petco Foundation. He was presented the check at the K-9 Police Memorial on May 7.
“We are very grateful to the Petco Foundation for recognizing our hard work to help police officers care for their retired K-9 partners. With this money we are able to assist more K-9s,” Block said.
The South Florida Fund for Retired Law Enforcement K-9 non-profit foundation was initiated by Block, after hearing from his father, a veterinarian, that police officers with retired K-9s were faced with huge vet bills.
Retired K-9s typically continue to live at the home of their law enforcement partners. After retirement, most often there are no financial provisions available as the departments for which the officers worked can no longer pay for the medical care for these dogs. Additionally, many times, the human partner is unable to manage the financial needs of extensive medical care. Many K-9s, as they age, acquire diseases frequently related to their past service. They not only face issues arising from natural aging, but many have sustained injuries from training and working such as torn ligaments, arthritis, and back problems. Many of these dogs can avoid unnecessary euthanasia with financial assistance to treat their conditions.
