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MDWFP’s K9 Unit

 

Enhancing Conservation and Public Safety

Your donation helps power the MDWFP’s new K-9 Unit, providing essential resources for wildlife detection, search and rescue, and evidence recovery. Support these highly trained teams in safeguarding Mississippi’s natural resources today.

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Meet the MDWP K-9 Team

Left – Right: Zach Munter and K-9 Ricky, Bradley Starling and K-9 Charlie, Larry Primeaux and K-9 Ranger, Baylee Jones and K-9 Dempsey

Meet the Dogs

Charlie

Dempsey

Ranger

Ricky

MDWFP’s New K-9 Unit: Enhancing Conservation and Public Safety

In the fall of 2023, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) launched its first-ever K-9 Unit. Comprised of four expertly trained dog-handler teams, this unit is set to transform wildlife protection and law enforcement across the state. The K-9 Unit will play an essential role in detecting wildlife crimes, aiding in search and rescue, recovering evidence, and engaging the public through outreach and education.

Why MDWFP Needs a K-9 Unit

K-9s have a long history of supporting law enforcement agencies, and their unique abilities make them particularly valuable for wildlife conservation. Their heightened senses allow them to:

  • Reduce Search Time: A well-trained K-9 can locate a missing person up to ten times faster than a traditional search team.
  • Enhance Evidence Recovery: K-9s can locate concealed or discarded evidence, such as illegal game or firearms, up to one million times more effectively than humans.
  • Increase Efficiency: A single K-9 can save MDWFP approximately 800 personnel hours annually by expediting searches and investigations.

With their expertise, these non-aggressive dogs are trained to find missing individuals, locate suspects, and recover crucial evidence in game and fish cases. The K-9 Unit will also serve as an educational tool, providing demonstrations for schools and media groups to raise awareness about wildlife conservation and public safety.

Supporting the K-9 Unit: How You Can Help

The establishment of the MDWFP K-9 Unit is a major step forward in conservation and law enforcement. However, maintaining and expanding this program requires financial support for ongoing training, equipment, veterinary care, and operational costs.

Your Donations Make a Difference

  • $100: Supports the monthly care and feeding of a K-9.
  • $500: Contributes to the continued training of K-9 teams.
  • $1,000: Funds essential K-9 equipment such as GPS collars, protective vests, and search gear.
  • Custom Donation: Choose any amount to support this vital program.

Your tax-deductible donation will go directly to the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, Parks, & Marine Foundation, ensuring that this essential K-9 Unit continues to protect Mississippi’s wildlife and serve the community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these attack dogs?
No. The MDWFP K-9 Unit is not trained for attack. These dogs are specifically trained for search and rescue, game and fish detection, and evidence recovery.

Why does MDWFP need a K-9 Unit?
K-9s enhance the effectiveness of MDWFP Conservation Officers by drastically reducing search and recovery times, leading to higher prosecution rates in wildlife crimes. These dogs are particularly valuable in dense, wooded areas where human search efforts are often less effective.

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Mail Checks to MWFP Foundation PO BOX 14194 Jackson, MS 39236