Law
Enforcement K-9 German Shepherds or K9 is an abbreviation and homophone
of Canine. It may refer to a variety of entries, most related to dogs.
The
term originated in the military, where designations such as G-2 are
common, making K-9 a rare official pun, being similar to "canine".
The term, originally referencing war dogs, has since carried over to police, and sentry and assistance/service dogs as well.
Police
dogs are in widespread use across the United States. K-9 units are
operated on the federal, state, county, and local level and are utilized
for a wide variety of duties, similar to those of other nations.
Although most Americans perceive these animals as attack dogs, their
duties generally include drug, bomb, and weapon detection and cadaver
searches. The most common police dogs used for everyday duties are German Shepherds, though other breeds may be used to perform specific tasks.
