In 1998 the Ventura Police Dog Foundation began as a local group helping to fund the K-9 program for the City of Ventura, CA. Ventura Police Department Lt. Dave Inglis and veterinarian Dr. Ron Dalzell, along with a few volunteers, realized the need for a civilian organization to help fund K-9 units. In addition, many cities in Ventura County lacked budgets to fund their K-9 programs in their entirety, so the foundation expanded and became the Police Dog Foundation. Not only did police departments lack the initial funds to purchase and train a dog, many did not have a budget for serious medical issues. This continues to be the same circumstance today throughout the US, so the foundation expanded again and became the National Police Dog Foundation.
The National Police Dog Foundation
began to support K-9 units throughout the United States in 2004. We currently assist law enforcement agencies through funding to achieve
their goals of providing a K-9 unit with quality police dogs and training. In addition, the NPDF has also incorporated a network of
veterinarians to help assist agencies with providing for maintenance care and possible emergencies as well as costly medical situations
that might occur during their active service career. Equally important is to provide continued care for the police service dog after
it retires. Our network of veterinarians includes some of the country’s most valued specialists in many varying areas of health care.
(See Medical Care)
Currently many dogs for police service work are imported from Europe. The origins of most working breeds are in
these countries, providing us with some of the best bloodlines available. Although through many years of importing excellent breeding
stock from Europe, the United States now has the ability to produce dogs of equal quality. One of the many benefits of dogs bred in
America is that they do not have to travel the many hours now necessary by plane to come to the US, saving them the stress of these
long flights.
It is the mission of the National Police Dog Foundation to provide for the purchase, training, and veterinary care of
working and retired K-9s. Please join us in this effort by supporting this noble cause. (See Membership)
