American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery (AKC/CAR) has donated microchips with a patented system newly available in the United States for implant into more than 50 working dogs from the NYPD, Metropolitan Transit Authority, and three New York counties.
As some of the most important and highly valued in the country, these police dogs help keep NYC and the surrounding areas safe via explosives and drug detection, law enforcement patrols, and search and rescue work. It is critical that these dogs be positively identified and recovered if ever lost.
On April 20 in Yonkers, N.Y., the dogs were scanned and their microchip numbers entered into the AKC/CAR recovery database, which is manned 24 hours, seven days a week by live operators. In addition to the NYPD and MTA dogs, working dogs from Westchester, Putnam and Orange counties will receive chip implants.
Officers are making sure they are prepared for any emergency by microchipping and enrolling their dogs in the recovery database, which can help locate and return their canine partners if lost.
In addition to the microchipping, police dog handlers received first-aid training free of charge, during a day-long seminar courtesy of Odin's Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing to K9 handlers.