Police K-9 Foster Parent Program
The Jaycox Gig Harbor Police Benevolent Fund police service dog program
Vision
A community project designed to raise police service dogs and create a community partnership.
Mission
Produce exceptional police service dogs through community involvement with organizations like GHPD Explorers, Boy Scouts, local 4-H clubs and volunteer citizens. Honor police officers from Washington State who died in the line of duty by naming the dogs in this program after them. Help the Gig Harbor community by donating money to the Jaycox Gig Harbor Police Benevolent Fund from the sale of these police service dogs (501-C3 non profit charitable organization).
Execution
The foundation of this program is not new. In fact, various service dog organizations throughout the world utilize a foster dog-raising program in order to produce excellent service dogs. Specifically, institutions like Fidelco Guide Dog School, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Department of Defense have all started a puppy-raising program.
The expectation and job requirements of a police service dog are extremely high. Therefore, the initial success of any K-9 unit depends on the quality of dog. If a department does not have the correct dog for the work, that departments K-9 program will fail. Because dog selection is extremely important and the success of any program hinges on the correct dog with good training, many organizations have gone to a breeding/puppy-raising program, which drastically increases the success of the K-9 program.
Socialization for the dogs and an introduction to basic training are best accomplished in the environment of a caring home with proper guidance from an experienced dog trainer. For this reason, our puppy-raising program depends upon volunteers to raise their puppy in their homes for the first 14 to 16 months of life. Their love and dedication in fostering these special police service dogs will result in exceptionally well-prepared police dogs.
The role of the foster parent is to expose the young dog to a wide variety of experiences and environments in preparation for its future work as a police service dog. The foster parent will attend weekly training classes with their pups instructed by qualified police service dog trainers in and out of the City of Gig Harbor. The dogs selected for police service work adjust more easily to the outside world when raised in normal home environment.
It is a special act of love when the foster parent returns the young dog to be placed with its K-9 handler and agency. The foster parent's reward is knowing the love and devotion put into raising the dog will assist the dog in becoming a member of a police department. Without the dedication of the foster family, we would not be able to reach the full potential of these soon to be K-9.
This program will focus on quality, not quantity. We will only have 2-3 dogs per class. Each dog will be named after a fallen Washington State Police Officer that died in the line of duty.
When a foster dog class is complete and the dog is ready to be placed with its new agency/partner, we will have a graduation ceremony at the Gig Harbor Civic Center to celebrate this occasion. We invite the families of the fallen police officers to attend. Before the ceremony begins, the foster family will give a small presentation and describe their experience with their dog (pictures and stories). Next, the new agency/handler will come to the stage and prepare to be given his/her new K-9 partner. The foster parent and the fallen officer's family (who the dog was named after) will escort the dog to its new K-9 officer and perhaps say a few words.
The puppies for this program are donated. All money received from the sale of these dogs to law enforcement agencies will be given to the Jaycox Gig Harbor Police Benevolent Fund.
Veterinary care is donated by Purdy Veterinary Hospital. Food is sponsored by Darwin's Natural Pet Products.
If you are interested in volunteering as a Foster Parent, please fill out the Foster Parent Application. You will be contacted after your application is received. The first class is starting in May 2008!!!
Click Here: K9 Program Brochure
Click Here: Foster Parent Application
For further information contact:
Officer Chet Dennis
Phone: 253-797-6201
dennis@TheJaycoxFund.org
