About Our Organization
In the summer of 2016, a group of us came together with a shared desire to make a positive impact in our local community. We were brainstorming ways to support our local law enforcement and find a cause that resonates with everyone. It wasn't long before we realized just how crucial K-9 units are in our everyday lives.
As we discussed and compared notes, it became clear that these remarkable K-9 squads are present in various aspects of our community – from schools and government buildings to stadiums and major events.
They work tirelessly to ensure our safety, detecting explosives, narcotics, and much more. In delving deeper, we uncovered something concerning – these K-9 units, despite their vital role, often faced challenges due to aging equipment and limited funding. This realization compelled us to take action.
That's when the Chesapeake K9 Fund was born. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to support our community by aiding these K-9 units. We wanted to increase awareness about their significance and provide an opportunity for those who share our passion to contribute.
We reached out to our local law enforcement to truly understand their immediate and future needs. This included addressing the urgency of replacing aging K-9 units, acquiring protective gear, and even investing in vehicle heat sensors to keep these incredible animals safe.
But we didn't stop there. We believe that collective efforts lead to lasting change.
So, we've been actively involved in organic fundraising endeavors, organizing community events that bring us all together, and working hard to raise awareness about the indispensable role these K-9 units play.
In a world where our safety and security matter greatly, the Chesapeake K9 Fund is dedicated to making a difference. Every day, we strive to ensure that these loyal and skilled K-9 squads have the support they need to continue protecting our community. Through collaboration, commitment, and community engagement, we're turning our vision into reality.
For the region served by the Chesapeake K9 Fund, the need for funding to replace Law Enforcement K9 partners is varied.
First are canines that “age out” of work simply due to their age and years of service. The work performed by these dogs can be strenuous to their bodies and most canines will be retired due to concerns from aging by around age 8. At the very least, their health is closely monitored by that age while the dog continues to work to watch for signs of issues. Canines are sometimes kept working while funding is being sought for their replacement. Many times, funding for the canines is not dedicated by agencies and when the need arises to replace a dog, funding must be competed with for other agency needs.
A big issue currently facing agencies in our Maryland region is that changing legislation related to marijuana laws has resulted in dogs being pulled from service early. In July of 2023, Maryland legalized recreational marijuana possession. Many narcotics detection dogs in Maryland have been trained to search for the odor of marijuana. The changes in legislation have created legality questions related to the use of these dogs. As a result, many agencies are retiring their dogs early and struggling to fund replacement canines.
Currently, Law Enforcement agencies across the nation are facing personnel shortages. There is less interest in people applying to become police officers and more officers retiring from the profession. The use of police dogs does have a direct relationship to department staffing shortages. Police Dogs are force multipliers for many agencies. The work that a properly trained dog team can do to locate either suspects or contraband is done with greater speed and efficiency than a human officer alone. A canine team can search an area or crime scene without the larger number of human officers that would normally be needed in the dog’s absence. So, by maintaining an adequate number of in-service dog teams, police agencies can offset the human officer shortages they face.
Sincerely,
Wendy Oliver
Founder & President
PS. 100% of all race proceeds will go to first responder agencies state-wide to supply the dogs and equipment they need.
Please sign up today! Donations are also welcomed!
