Law enforcement canine Roky on the job
Officer Kelsey Carey had partnered with her law enforcement canine, Roky, for three years when the German shepherd suffered an injury that ended his career and began his retirement at home with Carey.
As a member of the Manassas Park Police Department, Roky was trained to find bombs and firearms. The average Explosive Ordnance Detection canine can detect nine odors, Carey says, while Roky can identify close to 30. His career was cut short, however, when he tore a knee ligament in spring 2024.
Many handlers take their dogs home when the canines retire, which means they also adopt the financial cost of caring for their partners. The MPPD paid for the surgery to repair Roky’s ACL, but Carey is responsible for the remainder of his expenses in retirement. Knowing that police dogs sometimes have expensive job-related health conditions, she began searching for a program that would offer financial aid, but she says many associations wait-listed them.
Then Carey found the Virginia Police K-9 Association, an independent nonprofit organization in Chesterfield that provides financial help for retired law enforcement canines that have been adopted by their handlers. She received an immediate response from Theresa Riddle, president of VP K-9, who accepted Roky into the program without question.
Kelsey Carey and Roky
VP K-9 was formed in 2019 to assist the Chesterfield County Police Department’s canine unit, including active and retired dogs, Riddle says. “In 2021, we were approached by a couple of other agencies, canine handlers, about assistance for their dogs as well,” she adds. “What we realized was that there was a great need in the whole state of Virginia [among those caring] for the retired dogs, because the government does not provide any assistance for the retired dogs once their service is over.”
The organization revised its mission in 2022 to support retired canines from anywhere in Virginia and has since assisted 58 of them. The help can take the form of veterinary services, food, medicine and other resources.
“What we’re trying to do at this time is really make the general public more aware both of the rigors of police work on these dogs and the issues that they have after they retire as a result of this work, and just the fact that the government doesn’t take care of these animals,” Riddle says. “The financial burden is left up to the handlers, who are generally the adopters when the dogs retire.”
VP K-9 is funded exclusively through public donations, though CCPD continues to partner with the group for fundraisers, according to Riddle.
Retiring a law enforcement canine is no easy endeavor, especially when they are as driven to work as Roky was, Carey says. The dogs often experience anxiety without daily work, and some self-mutilate or chew items to soothe themselves and relieve boredom, she explains. “These dogs love [work], and they live for it,” Carey says. “It’s really hard that, one day, it all just comes to an end for them.”
Less than a year into his retirement, Roky chewed his tail so severely that it required partial amputation. VP K-9 covered both the surgery and the related veterinary expenses. When Roky needed another surgery to fully amputate his tail, the nonprofit again paid the entire bill. VP K-9’s support helped alleviate her stress, Carey says, and allowed Roky the best possible recovery.
“Theresa and the team have been wonderful,” Carey adds. “You can tell they really do care about these dogs and making sure they’re comfortable and happy, and live out the rest of their lives the best way they can.”
Roky at a Virginia Police K-9 Association event
Roky, now 11, attends VP K-9’s fundraising events with Carey. He plays with attendees and shares his favorite toy, a Kong, while they hear about the support he and other dogs have received from the organization.
At the Commonwealth K-9 Classic on Oct. 24, VP K-9 will partner with Richmond Dog Obedience Club to host demonstrations. Law enforcement canines and civilian sport dogs will compete in scent challenges to show off their skills and focus. Roky will star in the event’s photo op.
“They’re in it for the life of the dog,” Carey says of VP K-9. “No matter what we need, until his very last day, VP K-9 will be there.”
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