Frequently Asked Questions

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While every situation is different, we offer support in areas such as training equipment, protective equipment, housing, K9 purchases, and so much more! We make every effort to assist with all K9 related requests.

 Many have asked why not all departments pay for the medical costs and equipment of their K9s.The National Police Dog Foundation gives a great explanation:"K-9s are considered a specialty unit, which means technically they could run a department without them, unlike police cars, police officers, and their training. 80-plus percent of a police department’s budget goes toward salary, and the remaining 20 percent is needed to acquire equipment and training for the officers. There are simply not enough funds for most agencies to include the cost of K-9s and their up-keep in the general budget."While on the surface it seems like K9 units would be given equal funding as other units, the fact of the matter is most are not. Even in some of the nation's largest cities, K9 units are underfunded. When you start talking about small and rural departments, the budgets are usually non-existant. Most Americans would be very surprised to know the number of K9 units that run strictly off donations and how many officers pay out of pocket to cover their dog's needs.The lack of funds is exactly why K-9 Kaos AZ and many other K9 non-profits were founded. While we agree that K9 units should be fully funded, the fact remains they are not. And that is why we work so hard to protect and care for these brave teams, with your help.It is also important to remember that for the most part city councils and county commissions dictate the funds that are appropriated every year to their local law enforcement agencies. So while it is very easy to point fingers at the department, it is important to remember that a lot of the time they are doing the best they can with what they are given.

We currently assist K9 departments within the state of Arizona only, however, our goal is to someday expand our organization to a much larger scale!