Effort puts more bite into enforcement

The Spokane Police Department’s K-9 Unit received a check for $5,000 from Milk-Bone, in partnership with Albertsons Inc., for the purchase and training of an additional police dog. The check was presented at the Albertsons store at 37th and Grand last week.

Kindergarteners and third-graders from Jefferson Elementary were also on hand for the presentation. The third-graders from Tori Hanson and Mardell Cochran’s classes participated in the “name the dog” contest for the new dog.

Zeus was the winning name. It was submitted by 8-year-old Jake Hansel.

The kindergarteners from Renee Rolando’s class collected boxes of Milk-Bone snacks to give to the Police Department for the dogs in the unit.

Officer Brent Austin and his 4-year-old German shepard, Chip, gave a tactical demonstration at the event. Chip came from the Netherlands and has been working with Austin since April.

The dog lives with Austin’s family.

The Police Department has nine canines in the unit – seven on patrol teams and two on drug teams.

The donation from Milk-Bone and Albertsons is part of their effort to support local law enforcement. Together, they are working on seven K-9 donations nationwide this year.

The two companies have worked together since 1999 and have sponsored 21 new police dogs across the nation.