Springfield Police Join with State Representatives & Mayor Sarno to Show Support for Dakota’s Law
Springfield, Mass. — Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl C. Clapprood along with State Representatives Carlos Gonzalez (10th Hampden), Steve Xiarhos (5th Barnstable) and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno held a news conference Thursday to bring attention to and voice their support of HB 2424, also known as “Dakota’s Law.”
“Dakota’s Law” is an act that would establish a fund for the care of retired police K9’s in Massachusetts. Currently, when a police K9 retires any medical bills are paid out of pocket by their handler or adopted family.
State Representative and Chairman of Public Safety and Homeland Security Carlos Gonzalez stated, “Retired police dogs, like the women and men who serve our communities, deserve a peaceful retirement. We are hoping to assist dog owners with the cost of care and medical services after the beloved (partners) dog has dedicated years to service. We should show compassion and provide for their retirement, honoring their loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood stated, “I’d like to thank Representatives Gonzalez and Xiarhos for joining myself and Mayor Sarno to call attention to this bill. To me this is common sense and common decency. Our K9’s spend much of their lives training and working tirelessly to protect our residents. This is about making sure they receive the proper medical care after they retire so that they can enjoy the rest of their lives. Please join me in supporting this bill!”
Mayor Sarno states, “Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and I want to thank Representative Steven Xiarhos for filing this important legislation in support of our dedicated K9’s. Our brave K9 Officers and their police dogs are an important team within our Springfield Police Department. It is only right that our police dogs have a special fund created to care for their medical expenses for when they retire. Our own Springfield K9 Officer Eric Blair recently had to cover the medical expenses for retired K9 police dog, Mr. Warner, so that he could receive the proper treatment when he retired. I want to thank Representative Carlos Gonzalez for his continued leadership efforts in helping to move this legislation out of his committee.”
Springfield Police K9 Officer Eric Blair and his family recently had to spend thousands of dollars and setup a Go Fund Me so that retired K9 Mr. Warner could receive the proper treatment for his injuries when he retired. K9 Mr. Warner served the city of Springfield for eight years and received numerous awards and commendations. Mr. Warner received his unique name through an essay contest at Warner Elementary School in Springfield. Both attended Thursday’s news conference.
Rep. Xiarhos has coined this bill “Dakota’s Law,” in honor of a K-9 who inspired the K-9 PTSD Center in Seekonk. K9 Dakota responded to the Boston Marathon and his story will be featured in an upcoming Nexflix Documentary called “Healing Dakota.”
Rep. Xiarhos stated the funding is envisioned to be from a public-private partnership that creates a singular fund to distribute to the K9 caregivers. The bill is currently pending before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, which is chaired by Representative Gonzalez. To show your support for Dakota’s Law, please email or call your state lawmaker and reference House Bill 2424. You can find your legislator by clicking here.
