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Wednesday, November 07, 2001
K-9 fund-raiser ready to take humans on walk [Source: Ventura County Star] [Photo source: Freq Of Nature] By Alicia Doyle, Correspondent  For the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, raising bucks for the canine program is for the dogs. In an effort to continue keeping the thriving program alive, the department's dispatchers have put together the 9K-4-K9 Walk/Run 2001. Saturday's six-mile walk or run will begin at Moorpark High School, 4500 Tierra Rejada Road. The event benefits the Ventura County Sheriff's Canine Trust. "The dispatchers know what a valuable role these dogs play in protecting the lives of citizens and their partners," said Karen Portlock, coordinator of the event. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the national anthem at 9:15 a.m. The walk or run begins at 9:30 a.m., proceeding out of Moorpark High onto Tierra Rejada Road and making a loop that includes Spring and Peach Hill roads before returning to the high school. Entry fee is $15. Individuals walking are invited to bring their leashed dogs to the event. Law enforcement officers from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, Ventura County Fire Department and Simi Valley Police Department are expected to attend. Also expected is Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks. "This is definitely more than just a Moorpark event," Portlock said. "We are hoping to see 150 walkers or runners out there with their pledge sheets; if we have more, we are ready for them." In addition to pledges, money will be raised through a variety of other sales, including patriotic temporary tattoos, a silent auction and food sales. Activities planned for the day include dog agility demonstrations, a Jolly Jump for kids and a visit by Create A Smile, a nonprofit group that trains animals for therapy work in hospitals, nursing homes and battered women's shelters. The individual raising the most money by Saturday will win a silver Raleigh Mountain Sport Bike. The last time the Sheriff's Department raised money for the K-9 program was 1986, when $7,200 was generated. The program has been supported by private funding since, Portlock said. Police dogs cost between $10,000 and $12,000 just for the purchase and training alone, said Ventura County Sheriff's Capt. Stephen Wade, who is in charge of the K-9 program. For more information about the fund-raiser, call Portlock at 654-5158. 2001 © The E.W. Scripps Co. |