A police K9 went back to work at Dulles International Airport in Virginia, outside Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, two weeks after being kicked so hard by a traveler that he became airborne.

An Egyptian national has pleaded guilty to charges of harming an animal used in law enforcement, after kicking a K9 police dog so hard it was “lifted off the ground” and into the air. Hamed ...

Watch the video above to see a K9 hero given a rousing retirement party by the NYPD Some 1600 dogs currently serve in the U.S. military, while there are an estimated 50,000 police K9s.

K9 handlers stay mostly with their dogs until retirement. Then, the officer has the option to purchase the animal for a small donation. Puszakowski plans to keep Chinook as long as possible, he said.