Woman Donates 120+ Dogs to Police Departments Around Country, Paid For Out of Own Pocket

By Erin Coates
Published May 17, 2018 at 3:11pm

Police dogs are important members of the police force, trained to do many different tasks that humans would not be able to complete.

They are trained to do things such as detecting illegal substances with their powerful noses, patrolling an area with their keen hearing, and even tracking evidence or individuals for miles.

These K9 officers are vital, but there is usually a great need of more of them to be trained.

With the help of a woman in Coinjock, North Carolina, 100 police departments across the country have K-9 units.

It all started when Tammy Bybee’s bloodhounds had a litter of 15 puppies. Bloodhounds are known for their super sniffer noses that can track scents for a long time.

“They’re big stinky, slobbery, loving dogs,” she told CBS. “What they can do is phenomenal though.”

Bybee reached out to local police departments to donate her puppies for their K-9 units, and her phone would not stop ringing.

“I was so busy making sure that everyone got their puppy that I cried afterward… but I don’t cry anymore,” she said. “The handlers keep in touch with me. I get pictures of them and their success. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Since then, Bybee has donated over 120 of these dogs to police departments across the country, and she pays for the entire breeding process out of pocket.

Bybee has been part of the police force for most of her life, so she has a personal desire to give to law enforcement. She currently is an officer for the Duck police department.

“The message and the program she’s putting out, it’s hard to put into words,” Master Trainer Tom Hendrickson said. “It’s a labor of love I guess you can say.”

Despite the cost to her, Bybee says the reward is priceless as she hears stories of her dogs finding a suspect or doing their police duties perfectly.

“God created something with four legs that had a (sense of) smell that was astronomical above anything you could imagine.”

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Erin Coates

Contributor, News

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Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. A University of Oregon graduate, Erin has conducted research in data journalism and contributed to various publications as a writer and editor.

Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. She grew up in San Diego, California, proceeding to attend the University of Oregon and graduate with honors holding a degree in journalism. During her time in Oregon, Erin was an associate editor for Ethos Magazine and a freelance writer for Eugene Magazine. She has conducted research in data journalism, which has been published in the book “Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future.” Erin is an avid runner with a heart for encouraging young girls and has served as a coach for the organization Girls on the Run. As a writer and editor, Erin strives to promote social dialogue and tell the story of those around her.

Birthplace

Tucson, Arizona

Nationality

American

Honors/Awards

Graduated with Honors

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, University of Oregon

Books Written

Contributor for Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future

Location

Prescott, Arizona