Massachusetts Senate unanimously adopts Dooner amendment Dakota’s Law for retired police and military K9s

Boston, MA — Senator Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton) announced today that the Massachusetts Senate unanimously adopted her amendment establishing the Retired Police and Military K9 Care Fund, also known as Dakota’s Law. The amendment seeks to provide funding for medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care for retired police and military working dogs across Massachusetts.

Senator Dooner introduced the amendment during Senate budget deliberations, highlighting the sacrifices and service of working K9s that spend their lives protecting communities, assisting law enforcement, and serving alongside military personnel.

“These K9s spend their lives running toward danger to protect others,” said Senator Dooner. “They serve with incredible loyalty, courage, and dedication in some of the most dangerous situations imaginable. After years of protecting our communities, they deserve dignity, compassion, and proper care in retirement.”

The amendment is named in honor of Dakota, a Newton Police K9 who assisted law enforcement in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings and later developed canine PTSD as a result of his service. Dakota’s story helped bring attention to the lack of resources available for retired working dogs suffering from trauma-related conditions.

During her remarks on the Senate floor, Senator Dooner recognized several retired K9s currently receiving care through the K9 PTSD Research Center in Seekonk, including former police and military working dogs that participated in tactical operations, narcotics investigations, explosive detection, missing person rescues, and military deployments.

Senator Dooner also thanked State Representative Steven Xiarhos for his advocacy and leadership on the issue, as well as the bipartisan support from her Senate colleagues.

“I want to thank Representative Xiarhos for his unwavering advocacy and continued leadership in bringing attention to this important issue,” Dooner said. “I am also grateful to my colleagues in the Senate for their bipartisan support in unanimously adopting this amendment.”

The amendment highlights the work of James LaMonte and the K9 PTSD Research Center in Seekonk, which was founded through the rehabilitation efforts that helped Dakota recover and live out the remainder of his life with dignity and care. The center now supports retired and traumatized police and military working K9s from across the Commonwealth.