The Redlands Police Department K-9 Unit will hold a fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, hosted by Gerrards Market, 705 W. Cypress Ave.
K-9 demonstrations will be held at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Additional highlights will include pet adoptions, the RPD ballistic capable rescue/tactical vehicle, silent auction, a bounce house, live entertainment and face painting as well as food and a beer tasting area hosted by the Redlands Optimist Club. There will also be K-9 Unit T-shirts available for purchase.
Proceeds from the event will go to support the Redlands Police Department K-9 Unit.
The RPD K-9 Unit includes Duke, a 3-year old German shepherd and his partner Officer Joseph Valdivia, and Sonny, a 2-year-old springer spaniel, and his partner Officer Jaimeson Liu. Both K-9 teams will be at the event.
In December 2008, the Redlands Police Department began its drug-sniffing K-9 program with Radar, a black Labrador mix, using only private donations. In 2012, Radar retired as a working police K-9. Since that time, department K-9s have also included Kass, a 3-year-old chocolate Labrador, who retired from duty in 2013 due to health issues and Chewy, a narcotics odor detection dog, who retired in 2016.
Redlands Police narcotics officers frequently call on the department K-9s and also make them available to other local and federal agencies. The department also provides regular service to local schools through a contract with the Redlands Unified School District.
Since 2008, the ongoing training, medical costs, equipment and lodging for the department’s K-9s have been supported entirely by private donations with no cost to the City’s General Fund.
The Redlands Police Department also accepts direct donations to the K-9 program. Contact your tax professional to determine if your donation is tax deductible. Donations may be made out to the City of Redlands, attention Police Canine Fund, tax ID number 95-6000766, P.O. Box 3005, Redlands, CA 92373.
Donations (cash or check) may also be delivered to the Redlands Police Department, Attention Police Canine Fund, tax ID number 95-6000766, 1270 W. Park Ave., Redlands, CA 92374