A Dog's Life Just Got Better

It’s hard to imagine any ballot measure in Texas that would garner 94% approval, but this one did.  An amendment to the state constitution that allows retired police dogs to be adopted by their handler or another qualified individual, at no cost to them, won this overwhelming public support.  Prior to the adoption of this amendment police dogs that were unable to continue to do police work were considered surplus equipment – potentially auctioned off, but often euthanized.

Shortly after becoming sheriff, Skinner was tasked with deciding the fate of two “old and ailing” two K-9s in his department—an experience that led him to partner with sheriffs in neighboring counties to champion changes to the state constitution.

Some Texas law enforcement officials found ways of working around the antiquated law. In Austin, reports the Statesman’s Nicole Cobler, the police department sells retired dogs to their handler or another employee for just $1. Skinner, meanwhile, kept the two dogs up for retirement on the books but off active duty. Although this measure allowed the K-9s and their handlers to stay together, Brulliard writes that it prevented the department from recruiting replacement dogs. Other Texas departments have followed the letter of the law, euthanizing or auctioning off retired police pups.

It’s not often I find anything in Texas politics with which I agree, but this is certainly one of them