This petition serves to inform you that the NC laws pertaining to police K9s should be updated to appropriately recognize these dedicated animals as police officers in the NC state justice system. These animals serve in the same magnitude as our dedicated police officers and should be recognized as such when injustices happen in the execution of their duties. Criminals found guilty of injuring or killing these K9 officers should be charged at the same level as the criminals that injure or kill our police officers. I/we strongly believe that we owe these K9 officers this for their unconditional willingness to protect our communities.