The Westport Police Department is raising money for its K-9 Unit to select and train a replacement for a retiring police dog and to provide care for all of its dogs.

Formally, the department had to pay for some food out of pocket. The goal is to raise $40,000, and the department is 62% there. The department’s fundraiser on GoFundMe says $14,000 is needed for veterinary care, $6,500 is needed for food and nutrition, and $2,500 is needed for supplies and specialized canine and handler training costs.

And to replace retiring K-9 Koda, it costs $17,000. According to the fundraiser, the process to replace him will take months. Koda’s career spanned for seven years, completing 375 searches and lifting over 60 pounds of drugs off the streets. But now he will spend the rest of his retirement living at home as he endures a brain tumor and moderate hip dysplasia.

“These dogs are a huge tool for us in the town,” K-9 officer James Loomer said. “They provide an unbelievable amount of support for our police department in doing the jobs that regular officers can’t do. The nose on these dogs is unbelievable and the loyalty factor these dogs brings to the handlers and to the rest of the team as a whole is something we can’t do without.”

Pet food brand Earth Animal is donating $1,000 to the cause and will be donating food to the department.