CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Police Department has raised more than $12,000 toward its $30,000 K9 goal, according to Officer Sam Kimmons.
That is almost enough to add one of two $15,000 police dogs to its staff. The funding includes training for the canine's handlers.
Sonic Drive In is still in the lead to name one of the dogs. The restaurant's owners have donated $2,000 to the fund, with an anonymous donor in second place with a $1,050 donation.
A crowdfunding account for K9s of Crestview shows that another $100 of the $5,000 increment listed there has been raised in the past three days.
Alternatively, checks may be made payable to the Crestview Police Department Auxiliary.
ADDITIONAL FUNDRAISERS
More money is expected from these upcoming benefits:
•Tips donation: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 2 at Beef O Brady's, 2509 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview. All tips received during those hours will be donated to the cause.
•Dog luau and pool party: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 2 at Pawsitively Scrumptious Bark Bakery & Boutique, 198 N. Main St., Crestview. Paw prints describing attendees' donations to the K9s for Crestview effort will be used to decorate the store.
The Hawaii-themed event includes three sizes of dog pools in which attending canines can cool off. Bring a dog towel if your dogs are swimming. Evanger's food representative Kimberlee Evert will host a dog food tasting and will explain how to make tasty summertime treats. Additional giveaways are part of the event.
K9S' SERVICES
Last year’s health-related retirement of K-9 officers Rex and Edo resulted in the unit's suspension. Rex died in May.
Police, faced with limited funds, now borrow a K-9 unit from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office or the state Department of Corrections.
K-9 units' services include:
• Controlled substances detection during traffic stops and searches of buildings and vehicles
• Search-and-rescue, including locating lost children and vulnerable adults, dead bodies and tracking fleeing suspects
• Scent discrimination to match a suspect with a weapon or object used in a crime
• Instructional presentations to schools and community organizations, including drug prevention education.
HOW TO HELP
Donate toward K9s for Crestview>>
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview police start crowdfunding account for K9 purchase and training