Illinois residents can now apply for the new Illinois Police K9 Memorial License Plate, which will fund a new program to help cover veterinary expenses for retired police dogs across the state.

Created under House Bill 3140, the Care for Retired Police Dogs Grant Program will provide up to $1,500 per year to reimburse handlers or adoptive families for eligible veterinary costs. To qualify, a K9 must have served at least five years, or at least three years if injured in the line of duty.

The program will be supported entirely through license plate sales, at no cost to taxpayers. To guarantee long-term sustainability, it will only be launched once a minimum of 2,000 license plate applications are received by January 2028.

Illinois drivers interested in supporting retired police K9s can apply for the new plate here. Under “Name of Specialty Plate Being Requested type,” select “Illinois Police K9 Memorial License Plate.” There is a $25 fee to be placed into the fund.

For more information, contact the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.