Save the Dogs, Save Yourself!
We, the undersigned, strongly urge the Delaware Department of Correction to maintain and continue working Patrol K-9 patrol units within our state's correctional facilities.

K-9 units serve as an essential force multiplier that significantly enhances the safety and security of our prison facilities. These highly trained dogs and their handlers provide irreplaceable capabilities that protect Correctional Officers, civilian staff members, and by extension, the general public. If all the DOC's Patrol dogs are forcibly retired within the next year, some may not be able to find homes. Keep them working! Keep them alive!

Here’s why Patrol K-9 units must remain in place:

• Deters violent incidents
• Allows Correctional Officers to maintain control with fewer personnel
• Enables more efficient and thorough facility searches
• Reduces the need for physical confrontation between staff and violent inmates
• Provides rapid response capabilities during emergency situations

K-9 units also directly protect public safety in several critical ways:

• Deterring escape attempts that could put nearby residents at risk from violent criminals
• Quickly locating and apprehending escaped inmates before they can harm members of the public
• Reducing the likelihood of riots and disturbances that could require additional public resources

The safety benefits provided by K-9 units far outweigh their operational costs. Removing these valuable resources would place undue risk on the dedicated professionals who maintain order and security within our correctional facilities and compromise the safety of Delaware communities. Save the Dogs! Save Yourself!

This is not just about dogs — it’s about the people who protect our state every day. Removing Patrol K-9s would be a disservice to the men and women who put their lives on the line in our correctional facilities, and a step backward in public safety.

Stand with us. Sign this petition. Let your voice be heard. Protect those who protect us. Take Action Now!