Calif. Sheriff's Office Dogs Take Center Stage in Calendar

Strong, hardworking and active while possessing the ability for intelligence, loyalty and a protective nature, K-9 police dogs are a key part of a law enforcement agency's force.

Contra Costa Sheriff's Department officers and affiliate agencies developed an idea to raise money for the county K-9 unit, and are selling a calendar created with pictures of the county's eight-member canine team.

K-9 officer Roger Canady, a photography buff, said it is important to keep their canine partners safe by providing ballistic vests, or bulletproof vests, available to specifically fit police dogs. Officers also believe in keeping up training skills and to purchase any other necessary supplies and replacement of equipment as needed.

"Updating training is important, " Canady said. "Even on how people react to dogs at any given time is important to keep updated on."

K-9 police dogs are used for tracking criminals, patrolling troubled areas and detection and holding of suspects. Their keen sense of smell allows them to provide a variety of scent-work roles, including search and rescue, cadaver searching, as well as narcotics and explosive detection.

Canady, a member of the Oakley force, said that aside from fundraising, the calendars allow people to see the dogs and understand that they are used for the safety of public.

"So many people are scared of police dogs and think they are vicious, " he said. "The photos in the calendar were chosen to best show their personalities. For example, Doc (the calendar's January featured K-9) is one of the strongest and most reliable."

The eight sheriff K-9 police dogs are three different breeds, including German shepherd, Belgian Malinois and Dutch shepherd. The pictures are only of K-9s from the Sheriff Department and their affiliates, though there are other K-9 dogs that work within police departments in the county.

The calendars can be purchased at the Sheriff Headquarters, 1980 Muir Road, Martinez. For information, phone 925-313-2500.

The calendars are $20 each and all proceeds go directly to the county K-9 units, which includes the affiliate offices.

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