Police departments often face a practical barrier when building a K9 unit: funding the dog, training and deployment preparation. This case study documents how Selma Police Department in Tennessee and Officer Robert Heath developed a working partnership with K9 Bishop through Universal K9.
Watch the Selma Police Department and K9 Bishop Testimonial
The Department’s Challenge
According to Officer Heath, the department had already invested heavily in its first police canine and could not easily afford another dog. The department needed a qualified working K9 and an effective path for developing the officer-and-dog team.
What Universal K9 Provided
Universal K9 helped connect the department with a high-drive working dog and supported the team-development process. Officer Heath describes meeting Bishop and immediately recognizing the dog’s drive and level of preparation.
The result was not simply a dog placement. It was the formation of a working K9 team built around the department’s needs, an assigned handler and continued training responsibility.
Why Police Dog Grants Matter
The cost of a trained police dog can delay or prevent smaller agencies from starting or expanding a K9 unit. Universal K9’s evergreen Police Dog Grant Program explains eligibility, no-cost placement and handler obligations. Agencies researching the current-year opportunity can also review K9 Grant 2026 information.
Plan the Next K9 Team
Police departments, sheriff’s offices and other qualified law-enforcement agencies can contact Universal K9 to discuss their operational needs and the grant qualification process.
Related K9 Resources: Police Dog Grant Program | K9 Grant 2026 | Contact Universal K9