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Published on 07/24/1995 All articles from this issue

Big community response over K-9 program, police chief says

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By Bruce Barton / Town Crier Staff Writer

A grass-roots fund-raising campaign to get a Los Altos police dog program under way apparently has plenty of bark, based on donation totals announced last week.

Los Altos Police Chief Lucy Carlton said she received contributions totaling $19,300 as of last week, with approximately $22,000 needed to get the program started. Carlton said the Los Altos City Council was scheduled Tuesday to authorize the funds to establish the police department's K-9 program.

Carlton said donations came from various individuals and service groups, such as the local Kiwanis and Rotary clubs. Resident Jean Brandon led the charge among members of the Los Altos Homeowners League to raise $5,000 on her own. Brandon turned the money into Carlton last week.

"The money came in dribs and drabs," said Brandon, who began the fund-raising effort last October. Most of the donations were in the $20-25 range, Brandon said. Two notable contributions included $100 from Dr. David Roos of Adobe Animal Hospital in Los Altos, along with an offer for complimentary veterinary service, and $150 from 49ers quarterback Steve Young, a resident of Los Altos Hills.

"We're very, very pleased," Carlton said of the community response.

The $22,000 needed barely covers the cost of the K-9 program for one dog, Carlton said. Costs include $6,000 for one fully-trained dog and one month of training for officers, along with police vehicle modification that includes a remote-control door that opens when the officer calls for the dog.

Carlton said officers will use the dog as backup when they go out on calls involving prowlers, alarms or disturbances.

"If an officer goes to an alarm (call), or if there's a prowler, the officer will send the dog in first," Carlton said. "The officer will make the announcement first, 'We're sending the dog in.' "

Carlton said the dog could later be trained to sniff out either drugs or hidden bombs.

Officers are looking to get the dog, probably a male German shepherd imported from overseas, by October with the dog and officers ready to work together by January, Carlton said.

The city initially budgeted for a K-9 program in 1992, but had to withdraw due to budget cuts. That prompted Carlton's reaching out to the community for funds.

"I'm an animal lover and my husband had come from a meeting where the police chief was talking about the dog program," Brandon said. That prompted her involvement in the fund-raising.

"I got the nicest notes from people," she said, including one reading: "Dear Bow Wow Lady: For $6,000, that dog ought to speak seven languages."

"Anyway, it's done and it's been fun," Brandon said. "We made it work."

Carlton said the department would continue to seek - and welcome - donations from the community.