There are those who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve our communities. And they do it all for treats and belly rubs. The need more than that, however, to do their jobs safely.

“The K9 Unit at Richland County Sheriff’s Department has my heart,” said Palmetto GBA Senior Medical Reviewer Beth Eskridge. “Working dogs have always been interesting to me.”

Eskridge is a member of a volunteer group called the K9 Godmoms who collect donations of toys and treats for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) K9 Unit. But they also help provide much needed safety equipment to keep the 18 police service dogs safe on the job.

“We just raised money to get Rex Specs,” she said. “They're eyewear with UV-protection lenses. If a dog works primarily at night, and is needed in the day, the Rex Specs are used to protect their eyes. Some dogs pull double duty on the Search and Rescue Team and the K9 Unit, and they need the eye protection for times they’re in a helicopter or tracking in the woods.”

The K9 Godmoms collect monetary donations to contribute toward a variety of needs, from canine first aid and safety kits to dog beds to equipment.

The K9 unit does not receive funding from the RCSD, and much of the funding for the unit comes from the Richland County Sheriff’s Foundation and donations from volunteer organizations like the K9 Godmoms.

“The biggest expenses are veterinary bills, the vests the dogs wear but also the dogs themselves, including their certifications,” Eskridge said.

While the police service dogs are the primary focus of the K9 Godmoms, they also keep their human handlers in mind.

“We want them to know they've got people who think the dogs are pretty cool, but that we genuinely care about the deputy handlers too. That's why we named ourselves the ‘Godmoms’ ─ we wanted to be godmoms to the whole team,” Eskridge said. “My biggest hope is that they see the support and know they can come to us if they need something. I hope that the K9 unit knows they have a group of people they can approach and ask for help and support.”