The Veterans of Foreign Wars Chardon Post 6519 is holding a fundraising event in support of a different kind group charged with the safety of citizens — the four-legged kind.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Chardon Post 6519 is holding a fundraising event in support of a different kind group charged with the safety of citizens — the four-legged kind.
The Prime Time for K9s fundraiser will be held Oct. 14 at the VFW post at 752 Water St. in Chardon, across from Sage’s Apples Orchard and Farm, with funds going toward the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit.
The event, from noon to 5 p.m., will include a prepaid prime rib dinner and offer participants chances to win baskets, silent auctions and play a reverse raffle, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m.
The GCSO K-9 Unit operates solely from funds donated by citizens and businesses throughout the area.
“We have a great group of dedicated K9 handlers,” Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand said. “They are well trained and ready to use their dogs anytime they are needed. They continue to perform their deputy duties when their dog is not needed.”
When any of the dogs are injured, require specialized care or have retired and a replacement is needed, it depletes the fund, he said.
GCSO’s Facebook post recently received more than 2,500 well-wishers on Sgt. Jake Smith’s longtime loyal K9 partner Spirit’s retirement announcement Oct. 3.
Smith and Spirit, a 12-year-old male, full bred German Shepherd, have been partners since 2012, serving the residents of Geauga County and surrounding agencies for the past 11 and a half years.
“Spirit was a very valuable asset to the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office throughout the years,” Smith said. “Since the first day on patrol, Spirit has worked the midnight shift and has enjoyed every night.”
He was well known throughout the community, excelling in narcotics detection and tracking, and is accredited with countless narcotics arrests and locating numerous suspects, Smith said.
“One of the most memorable moments was when he tracked a suspect who fled on foot after a pursuit,” Smith said. “It was late at night. He located the suspect hiding in a wood pile who had covered himself with pieces of wood. As another deputy was taking him into custody, Spirit continued to bark and pull me to the side. I turned and shined my flashlight toward a hollowed-out tree. It was then I found that he was attempting to apprehend a second unknown suspect hiding in the tree.”
Spirit was bought for $1 from the Geauga County Commissioners by his handler and will remain at Smith’s home.
Deputy Greg Borden’s K9, Rotar, is an 11-year-old full bred German Shephard certified for narcotics detection, tracking, article search, criminal apprehension and handler protection.
“Durning the past 10 years of patrol, K9 Rotar has had many accomplishments, from locating illegal drugs, tracking and locating suspects in the woods, public demonstrations to even helping locate suspects wanted for bank robbery,” Borden said.
Hearing about the fundraiser means a lot to Borden.
“It makes me feel that the citizens and the sheriff’s office understand how important it is to have our working dogs here for the community,” Borden said, adding he is grateful to have the opportunity to be a K9 handler and have his partner with him this long.
“K9 Rotar maybe 11, but hasn’t slowed down, making him a true work dog,” Borden said. “I’m thankful to the sheriff’s office and commissioners for supporting our K9 program. Also, thankful to our citizens who support us and the veterinarians we have who help keep our dogs going — TLC Pet Hospital in Bainbridge Township.
Deputy Randy Primer began his career at GCSO in 2007, joining the K9 Unit in January of 2023 along with K9 partner Justice, a male, full bred German Shepherd born in the Czech Republic, certified in narcotics detection, suspect apprehension, handler protection, article search and tracking.
“Working with Justice, visiting the local businesses, having him with me every minute makes my already wonderful job even better,” Primer said. “It’s like working with your best friend every day.”
Justice loves to play with children and go up the slides at playgrounds, and has worked many demonstrations. When at the office, Justice acts like he owns the place, Primer said.
He loves dispatch and records, where he knows they have treats and the detective bureau enjoys roughing him up when they play with him, he added.
“The benefits of a K9 unit are countless,” Smith said. “Their use in criminal cases, missing people/children and community relations is tremendous. They will complete any task assigned to them and require nothing more than praise and a tug toy. They are any law enforcement agency’s best tool.”
Almost all costs of the Prime Time K9 event have been covered by donations from the community, including Melzers Fuel Service donating $2,000 for the dinner’s reverse raffle prize and Chardon VFW donating the food.
“What has been most rewarding thus far is the fact that we have brought awareness to the idea that the K9 unit is not funded by taxes,” event organizer Matthew Emrick said, along with co-organizer Gene Champman.
“From this fund, we purchase and train new dogs, feed and provide veterinary service and care for the dogs,” Hildenbrand added. “We very much appreciate all the time and effort that the organizers and volunteers have put into this event. We also thank all the donors.”
How to Help the Paws that Enforce the Laws
Tickets for the Prime Time for K9s fundraiser prime rib dinner Oct. 14 are sold out.
To purchase online raffle tickets at https://app.donorview.com/8rWGo, sponsored by Blue Line Unlimited, for $10 per ticket to win $1,000 with 100% of ticket donations going directly to the GCSO K9 Unit. Winner need not be present to win.
Donations to the K9 unit can be made directly to the sheriff’s office by mailing a check, labeled “Geauga County Sheriff’s Office K9 Fund,” to 12450 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio, 44024.
