JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A local 10-year-old girl made sure K9 officers, and their dogs got a special treat this holiday season.
“We give them toy KONGS. They’re about this big and they have like holes too where you can throw them and it’s a really good reward toy for the dogs whenever they do good,” Emma Johnson said.
Emma started delivering Christmas gifts to K9 officers and their dogs six years ago.
“Renegade’s probably my favorite,” Emma said.
“When it came Christmas-time she was like, ‘mom we got to get presents for the K9s,’” Debbie Johnson, her mom and founder of K9s United, said.
The local nonprofit has already helped push for stronger penalties against those who harm a police dog.
Recently the group helped pass a law so K9s can be transported by EMS if they are injured.
JSO’s K9 Chaos was rushed to the vet back in September during a manhunt in Nassau County.
He was the first K9 that was transported since the bill passed and it’s so new that EMS personnel was not familiar yet with how to start an IV on a dog.
Luckily, with K9s United’s training, Chaos’ handler was able to start the IV.
Emma told Action News Jax she wanted to give back to these K9s since they put their lives on the line.
This year was the first year Florida Highway Patrol received gifts for their K9s.
Emma gave out more than 100 gifts last week to police dogs in at least 10 different agencies, including JSO, and she’s already thinking about next year, hoping to raise more donations to give out even more gifts.
Her stops included: St Johns County Sheriff’s Office, St Augustine Beach Police Department, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Jasper County (Florida Highway Patrol training), Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
In the past, she’s held bake sales and even used her own money to purchase the dog toys.
“I think it’s fun and I love all of them,” said Emma.
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