Vacaville PD K9 Fundraiser
Donation protected
On Thursday Jan 7th we had an incident in our neighborhood that was extremely unsettling. While police officers were detaining 3 individuals one suddenly fled, jumped over our fence and was able to hide for almost two hours while numerous officers searched the surrounding yards. In total there were 9 squad cars and 10 officers putting themselves at risk.
When asked why the K9 unit was not present,we were informed they are no longer available during the day due to the recent loss of 2 of the 4 dual purpose dogs.
Since the dogs are purchased and trained almost entirely from commmunity raised funds, we immediately wanted to help. We were put in touch with Frank Piro, one of Vacaville's K-9 handlers who gave us the following information about the program:
Our K9 unit has historically been comprised of four "dual purpose" dogs and one "single purpose" dog. A "dual purpose" dog is trained in both narcotic detection and suspect location/apprehension. A "single purpose" dog is strictly dedicated to narcotic detection. The selection process for a police canine is an extensive one. There are a series of tests that each canine must pass, which include profiling their courage, drive, and environmental stability. The cost associated with the initial purchase of the canine is approximately $10,000. Then the canine and his new handler must attend a rigorous 3 month training program to prepare them for their job on the streets. The cost associated with training both the canine and handler is approximately $10,000.
Our canines then require weekly training to maintain and polish their skills. They are on strict diets and their health needs to be monitored routinely by a Veterinarian. And of course, we cannot forget their toys. As you can see, maintaining a K9 program is very costly. The primary funding source for our program is the public. We rely on contributions from citizens and businesses to sustain such a vital resource to our community.
Last year, our K9 unit had one of our roughest years to date. K9 "Koda" retired in mid 2015, and passed away only a couple months later due to medical reasons. We also had to say goodbye to our beloved K9 "Cir." He retired two and half years ago after 7 years of service with the Vacaville Police Department. After experiencing some medical issues, he too was laid to rest in December of 2015. K9 "Kamos" reached the end of his career as well, retiring in November of 2015. Beginning our journey into 2016, our K9 unit is currently staffed with only two "dual purpose" dogs for the entire city. Unfortunately, one of those two, K9 "Syar," we will say goodbye to in December as he heads off into retirement after many years of service.
The Vacaville Police Department and K9 unit are resilient and are optimistic that things will improve as the year progresses. In an effort to build morale within the unit and strengthen our partnership with the community, we will be hosting a Police Canine Trial in Vacaville in August of this year. This exciting event is open to the public and is guaranteed to showcase some of the most amazing canine teams throughout Northern California. We genuinely appreciate your generous donation and your willingness to support our program in such a proactive way. With the help of people like you, our K9 unit is sure to see a brighter future. Thank you once again.
Frank Piro
K-9 handler
Vacaville's K9 police unit is instrumental in helping prevent crime, apprehend suspects , protect our officers and is also a vital tool in strengthening the relationship between our police department and the community. Please do what you can to help this special effort by sharing the campaign via social media and email, etc. Let's get the word out far and wide.
PLEASE SHARE!
And remember no donation is too small and will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much,
Bob and Lucia Morales
When asked why the K9 unit was not present,we were informed they are no longer available during the day due to the recent loss of 2 of the 4 dual purpose dogs.
Since the dogs are purchased and trained almost entirely from commmunity raised funds, we immediately wanted to help. We were put in touch with Frank Piro, one of Vacaville's K-9 handlers who gave us the following information about the program:
Our K9 unit has historically been comprised of four "dual purpose" dogs and one "single purpose" dog. A "dual purpose" dog is trained in both narcotic detection and suspect location/apprehension. A "single purpose" dog is strictly dedicated to narcotic detection. The selection process for a police canine is an extensive one. There are a series of tests that each canine must pass, which include profiling their courage, drive, and environmental stability. The cost associated with the initial purchase of the canine is approximately $10,000. Then the canine and his new handler must attend a rigorous 3 month training program to prepare them for their job on the streets. The cost associated with training both the canine and handler is approximately $10,000.
Our canines then require weekly training to maintain and polish their skills. They are on strict diets and their health needs to be monitored routinely by a Veterinarian. And of course, we cannot forget their toys. As you can see, maintaining a K9 program is very costly. The primary funding source for our program is the public. We rely on contributions from citizens and businesses to sustain such a vital resource to our community.
Last year, our K9 unit had one of our roughest years to date. K9 "Koda" retired in mid 2015, and passed away only a couple months later due to medical reasons. We also had to say goodbye to our beloved K9 "Cir." He retired two and half years ago after 7 years of service with the Vacaville Police Department. After experiencing some medical issues, he too was laid to rest in December of 2015. K9 "Kamos" reached the end of his career as well, retiring in November of 2015. Beginning our journey into 2016, our K9 unit is currently staffed with only two "dual purpose" dogs for the entire city. Unfortunately, one of those two, K9 "Syar," we will say goodbye to in December as he heads off into retirement after many years of service.
The Vacaville Police Department and K9 unit are resilient and are optimistic that things will improve as the year progresses. In an effort to build morale within the unit and strengthen our partnership with the community, we will be hosting a Police Canine Trial in Vacaville in August of this year. This exciting event is open to the public and is guaranteed to showcase some of the most amazing canine teams throughout Northern California. We genuinely appreciate your generous donation and your willingness to support our program in such a proactive way. With the help of people like you, our K9 unit is sure to see a brighter future. Thank you once again.
Frank Piro
K-9 handler
Vacaville's K9 police unit is instrumental in helping prevent crime, apprehend suspects , protect our officers and is also a vital tool in strengthening the relationship between our police department and the community. Please do what you can to help this special effort by sharing the campaign via social media and email, etc. Let's get the word out far and wide.
PLEASE SHARE!
And remember no donation is too small and will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much,
Bob and Lucia Morales
Organizer and beneficiary
Lucia Morales
Organizer
Vacaville, CA
Frank Piro
Beneficiary