A Respected Member Of The Team
Police dogs are treated with care and respect while on the force.
This includes (unfortunate but rare) cases in which a dog is killed.
If a police dog dies in the line of duty, they are awarded ‘the same honors as its human partner’.
Check out this fascinating document on “The Rocky Protocol” to learn more about police dog burial practices.
When a dog makes a mistake, the handler is held accountable, not the dog.
This respects the fact that, while the dog is valued, its limited reasoning capacity (compared to that of a paid human) is respected.
While a dog can’t exactly do much with a salary, its handler definitely can.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, or BLS, the average national salary of a canine officer is $70,000 per year or $33.66 per hour, as of May 2020. Most salaries range from $38,420 to $109,040 per year. Some police departments require canine and other police officers to possess only a high school diploma, while others require an associates or bachelors degree. A minimum education requirement can weigh heavily on an officers salary.
After a few years of service as a regular patrol officer, a police officer interested in specializing in the canine unit can obtain canine training and certification. Because a canine cop is essentially a specialized police officer, her salary is similar to that of a patrol officer. Police departments in Alexandria, Virginia, for example, offer K-9 handlers a small supplement to help offset the cost of caring for a police dog.
In some police departments, canine officers receive a supplemental canine pay, which accommodates the expense of caring for the dogs. This supplement slightly raises a canine officers pay slightly, compared to other police officers, according to Go Law Enforcement. Because the minimum education requirement differs according to region, officers who hold an advanced degree tend to earn more than officers who meets the minimum requirements.
In California, New Jersey and Alaska, compensation for canine and other police officers is significantly higher to accommodate the cost of living. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), many states in the South have relatively low costs of living, which contributes to the low pay scale.
As the name suggests, a canine officer is a police officer who works with a specially trained dog. These dogs are trained to track humans and detect illegal narcotics, bombs and other contraband. The Belgian Malinois, Bloodhound, Dutch Shepherd, German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever are popular K9 dog breeds, according to the American Kennel Club, or AKC.
How many hours does a police dog work?
Police dogs work long hours alongside other officers on the force – but often will be used above and beyond the normal 8-hour working day.
This will include a variety of working hours, from early 6am starts to late-night shifts into the early hours of the morning.
Some forces also allow their dog handlers to work a reduced seven-hour shift, so they can have time to feed their canines and clean their kennels.
Do police dogs get paid?
Unconditionally loyal, police dogs often work long hours to protect, patrol, and serve the community. Trained by dedicated officers throughout the UK, our highly intelligent dogs assist with many policing duties such as conducting searches, locating missing persons, assisting in arresting offenders, and supporting officers throughout their investigations.
Although dedicated and extremely hardworking, police dogs are not paid the same way as their fellow human partners.
The good news is that, like most working dogs, police dogs see their work as a game and as something they enjoy doing. Just like any other house pet, the best reward in a dog’s world is endless amounts of playtime, copious amounts of love, and delicious snacks.
Devoted to their duties, read on to discover the benefits UK police dogs and their handlers receive.
Whilst dog handlers take home their salary each month, police dogs do not get paid – at least not in the same way. Much like patrol cars and safety equipment, police dogs are an important asset to keeping the public safe but as such, they are regarded as property and not personnel.
Just like your furry friend at home, police dogs are rewarded with playtime, tasty treats, and unlimited love and adoration. Not only are our loyal canines showered with off-duty affection, but the police departments themselves cover their medical, training, and diet expenses.