The Governor of Illinois signed legislation over the weekend that gives retiring police dogs the ability to be adopted by their handlers.
Gov. Bruce Rauner put his signature on the Police Dog Retirement Act, which will allow all K-9s that are deemed no longer fit for public service to be offered first to their handler, on First Responders Day at at the Illinois State Fair Saturday, according to The Telegraph.
Retiring K-9s will be given to a no-kill shelter if they are not adopted by a member of the department. Currently, it is up to the village manager, mayor or police chief to determine how the retired dogs are handled.
"They may not look like our typical officers, but K-9 police dogs are crucial to how our first responders do their jobs," Rauner said in a statement. "They are partners and team members. They quickly become a part of the family, and they should be allowed to stay with that family, even after retirement."
Indiana State Police Director Leo Schmitz along with K-9 officers and their handlers, joined the governor at the ceremony.
"Canine handlers and their partners form a special bond as they face many challenges together," Schmitz said. "The signing of the canine bill recognizes this special bond and provides both the handler and the canine the ability to remain together following their service to the citizens of Illinois."
