RACINE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) --- The Racine County Sheriff's Office recently announced they have been selected to receive a grant for the purchase of an additional K-9 from the Emma Loves Dogs foundation.

"The Sheriff's Office has been extremely fortunate with the health and service of our canines over the years, which is a testament to the care and conditioning they receive from their handlers," Racine County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "Despite the great care of our handlers, several of our K-9's are nearing the end of their service life due to their age."

Officials say the grant will allow them to begin replacing those K-'s over the next several years while still maintaining the K-9 Unit staffing overall.

The K-9 unit is independently funded through grants and donations from local businesses, the general public, and fundraising events. 

"The Sheriff's Office is extremely grateful for being selected by the Emma Loves Dog Foundation," a news release stated. "This grant helps to ensure the Sheriff's Office can continue its long-standing commitment to public safety through our K-9 unit."