The North Richland Hills Police Department could use your help in caring for retired K-9s.
Unlike humans, when a K-9 retires from the North Richland Hills Police Department, that K-9 is no longer covered by city-sponsored medical care.
"What a lot of people may not know is when a K-9 retires from a city, the care and the funding of that care actually transfer to the handler," said Carissa Katekaru, North Richland Hills Police spokeswoman. "As these dogs age the veterinary care is extremely expensive."
So the North Richland Hills Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association has launched a fund to help handlers meet veterinary expenses for their retired K-9s.
The first K-9 it will help is K-9 Breta, who served the city for more than eight years, racking up almost 1,000 deployments and more than 40 arrests.
"Unfortunately, K-9 Breta has fallen on some pretty intense neurological medical issues," Catekaru said. "That [has] resulted in some pretty extensive procedures to try to figure out what's going on."
Those procedures include advanced bloodwork, EKG, radiographs, cardiac testing, an MRI and a canine eye specialist.
There are a couple ways you can help.
"You can drop off a check or cash to the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, attention K-9 Support Account," Katekaru said.
You can also mail your check to:
CPAAA K-9 Support Account
North Richland Hills PD
4301 City Point Dr.
North Richland Hills, TX 76180.
The city is currently working on a way to allow people to make donations electronically.
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