By Heather Hacking
Chico Enterprise-Record
ORLAND, Calif. — Orland Police Chief Paula Carr can envision many circumstances where having a canine on the force would help the community.
The department has never had a police dog and is hoping the big push to raise money will put four new paws on the pavement.
For example, there was an officer hurt recently while trying to make an arrest, and the suspect took off, Carr said.
An officer and canine from Anderson were able to reach the scene and “within a number of minutes we had the suspect in custody,” she said.
“One of the nice things about a canine, is that (suspects) surrender quickly. They don’t want you to send the dog in,” she said.
Carr said criminals learn that dogs are in the neighborhood and know they are more likely to have narcotics sniffed out, which could lead to less traffic from I-5 spilling into Orland.
Dogs can provide safety to an officer, such as being sent into risky situations like a burglar alarm in a warehouse.
Mutual aid could include Narcotics Task Force drug sweeps and tracking down missing children or people with dementia.
She’d also love to see the fairgrounds used as a canine training site or for area-wide competitions.
Carr said she was careful in her choice of dog breeders.
She wanted a “dog that will be able to go to West Haven Senior Living Center and lick the face of an 85-year-old woman, and 10 minutes later take down a bad guy.”
When she first investigated getting a canine handler, she looked into a program she knew in Southern California.
But the five-week program would cost the department room and board, plus loss of an officer. She put the plan on the back burner.
She researched further and found Vigilant Canine Services International, which has a training and breeding program in Red Bluff.
“They bring the training to us,” Carr said, which cuts the costs significantly.
“When I interviewed them and saw their dogs in training ... I was so impressed.”
The breed is Belgian malinois, which looks like a German shepherd, but doesn’t have the hip problems and tend to be able to be worked for a longer amount of time.
The hope is for the canine officer to be on the job for 8-10 years. The cost for a canine run about $5,000, and will be offset by a contract with the school district for sniffing lockers.
She chose officer Michael Stover to be the dog’s partner because she could see he has the right type of personality, she said.
Another officer would also be suited, and will be a second handler if another dog is added in the future.
A fundraising raffle is under way, but donations are also welcome. Sponsors of $500 or more will be listed as founding sponsors.
Donation boxes are at Mid-Valley Veterinary, Uncle Chong’s, Discount Liquors, Super Shopper Market, Orland Stop and Shop, Orland Smoke Shop, Ice Box, AM/PM, USA gas stations Hoff/South St., City Hall, Orland Saw and Mower, La Perla Tapatia, Orland Bowl and NAPA Auto Parts.
Staff writer Heather Hacking can be reached at 896-7758 or hhacking@chicoer.com
Orland police raise money for K-9 officer
Two raffles to win a Kawasaki 4X4 and hunting supplies are being held to raise money for a new canine for the Orland Police force.
The ideal is to raise about $52,000, which would pay for the dog, training and a SUV with special features.
The two raffles should bring in about $30,000. If the full amount can’t be raised, Orland Police Chief Paula Carr said an existing vehicle can be retrofitted.
A booth at the Glenn County Fair, which starts today and runs through Sunday, will have tickets.
Tickets for the quad are $5 or five for $20.
Tickets for one of 30 sporting guns, four hunting bows or a gun safe, are $50 each, with a total of 1,000 tickets.
In addition to the fair, tickets are at the Police Department, 817 Fourth St., and the Chico Gun Show at the Elks Lodge, Saturday through Sunday.
The winning ticket for the quad will be drawn Sunday.
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