A ceremony held on October 1 brought together members of the Chesterfield County Police Department, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia Police K-9 Association to recognize a significant act of community support. The event centered around a $50,000 donation from Richard “Dick” Strauss, his wife Lucille, and their daughter Lisa. This is the largest contribution ever received by the Virginia Police K-9 Association.
Theresa M. Riddle, president of the Virginia K-9 Association, addressed attendees: “We want to recognize some people who have been very generous in our community at large, but also within our organization.”
The donation will fund care for retired police canines that served in Chesterfield County. These funds are intended to cover veterinary services, medications, and other essential needs for the dogs after they retire from active duty.
According to Riddle, “This is really about you all. This is a gift that is being given to our organization specifically to help retired canines that have served in Chesterfield County.”
Police canines play a critical role in law enforcement by performing tasks such as drug detection, search and rescue operations, tracking suspects, and more. After years of service alongside their handlers, many develop health conditions related to their work. Once retired, responsibility for their medical expenses often falls solely on their handlers.
The Virginia Police K-9 Association was established to support these animals during retirement and assist handlers with costs associated with ongoing care. The association also commemorates fallen K-9s who died after serving.
At the conclusion of the event, several active-duty canines and their handlers joined the Strauss family for a group photo to mark the occasion.
