K9s United, a Florida-based nonprofit, is dedicated to providing essential equipment for canine crime fighters across the nation and is encouraging drivers and dog lovers to pre-register for their own K9s United speciality license plate to support the cause.

About The Florida Specialty License Plate:

The license plate design is in honor of two brave Florida K-9 officers:

• K-9 Ryker, a retired officer from St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office who sadly passed in 2020.

• K-9 Drago, a retired officer who proudly served the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for more than four years.

Three thousand license plates must pre-sell before they can go into production, and while this dog-loving nonprofit is more than halfway to its goal, it needs help from its fellow drivers and dog lovers.

Why It’s Important:

Florida drivers can pre-register online at K9sUnited.org for $34 and $25 from each license plate sold will help K9s United provide essential paws-on training workshops, resources, equipment and advocacy to law enforcement K-9s and their handlers, and EMS professionals.

Many law enforcement agencies don’t have adequate funding to provide K-9 units with the crucial resources they need, including advanced training, kennels and equipment such as vehicle heat alarms and door poppers, canine emergency kits and bulletproof vests. K9s United helps fill that void and aid law enforcement agencies to ensure the K-9 units have the programs and supplies the dogs need most.

Additionally, K9s United actively advocates for legislation that protects and serves these selfless working dogs. The organization has successfully championed Florida legislation that allows for injured K-9s to be transported via emergency vehicles, including ambulances and helicopters, to the nearest emergency vet and creates harsher penalties for criminals who intentionally harm a working K-9. K9s United is committed to supporting legislation on local, state and federal levels to protect K-9 teams across the country.