Date of Award
Spring 2022
Degree Type
Capstone - Open Access
First Advisor
Dr. St. Louis
Abstract
The K-9 Unit is a special unit within police departments where an officer may have a canine as their partner. They are designed to assist law enforcement in their duties making it easier to keep cities and towns safe. Within this unit, it is required that both handler and canine undergo intensive training. This paper reviews the steps a person may take to join a K-9 Unit and how to excel with their canine partner on the force. After discussing the history of using canines to serve and protect, this paper explores the difficulties of being a K-9 Handler such as the belief that it is cruel and inhumane to utilize animals within such a field. The paper dives into this controversy and concludes that canines love to perform their work alongside their handlers, and work hard to do so.
Recommended Citation
Thomaszewski, Krystle, "Handler and Canine: Exploring the Career Path of a K-9 Officer" (2022). Criminology Student Work. 50.
https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/crm_studentpub/50
