LOWRY, Colo. (KDVR) — An event on Wednesday evening brought different law enforcement agencies in Colorado together to raise funding for their K-9 units.
“We’re gonna joke that we spend more time with these dogs and with our families. And it’s kind of true. I mean, I spend every day with them. And, you know, he feels like my right arm. You know, having them with me every day, it’s, he’s just such a part of my thought process,” said Kyle Winters, an officer with the K-9 unit for the Lakewood Police Department.
The cost of having a K-9 unit can be high, with thousands of dollars spent by departments and offices across Colorado every year.
However, it makes sure that the dogs are well-equipped for the field.
“A commitment I made to my fellow officers that I would always try to put my dog between them and the danger,” Winters said. “So having the body armor on him makes me feel better in that I’ve given him every chance I can.”
The fundraising event, Heroes With Paws, was hosted at Lowry at Wings Over the Rockies, with the hopes of bridging the gap in funding for agencies’ K-9 units.
It even brought K-9 handlers from across the state to show off what makes these dogs one of a kind, because for some departments, that is truly the case.
“This just helps me to keep our the K-9 unit up and running because I’m the only one only dog assigned to Sheridan,” said John Nelson, an officer at the K-9 unit for the Sheridan Police Department.”So every little every little event and every little thing I could get from my dog just helps out.”
The funding also goes to the K-9 handlers who are with the dogs every step of the way, even during training.
Some law enforcement officers, who work in their department’s K-9 units, told FOX31 the words “man’s best friend” do not even begin to describe the relationship they share with their partner in the field.
“I tell folks when I have to send him into dangerous situations, it’s like sending a piece of my heart in there with him. And I know I might not get it back,” Winters said.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
