AARP Donation will Help K-9 Unit B-1 Better
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-06-19 15:38:30.762392-04:00
With his big brown eyes, ear-to-ear grin and playful attitude, Anuk is quickly capturing the hearts of Wautoma and other Waushara County residents. But don't let the looks of this loveable German Shepherd deceive you - he'd much rather be capturing criminals.
Anuk is a dual purpose canine officer, trained in patrol and narcotics work. Imported from Germany, he is trained to aggressively indicate the odor of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin. As an actual sworn-in Waushara County Sheriff's Deputy, Anuk also tracks lost people, hunts down criminals, and conducts searches in buildings and open areas.
"Wherever I go now, people ask if I have Anuk with me. He's been great for our department and community," said Deputy Wally Zuehlke, the dog's handler and partner in the field. "Wherever I go, I always have my backup."
The money to purchase Anuk was raised by the Waushara County Crime Stoppers. The canine program has been so successful and popular that the sheriff's department is planning to get a second dog, courtesy of an anonymous $15,000 donation made to the department on behalf of the local AARP chapter.
Several fundraisers coordinated by AARP and the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors are now in the works in an effort to match that donation, so that the new canine division can be on duty full time, with funds left over to purchase and train replacement dogs at some point in the future.
The momentum for the canine unit blossomed as a result of a close relationship between the sheriff's department and community organizations, such as the Wautoma-Waushara AARP Chapter 4134.
"Police and senior citizens work closely together, sharing information and keeping the community as informed as possible," said Neil Hart, president of the local AARP chapter. "Sometimes the best burglar alarm is nosey neighbors across the street," added Waushara County Sheriff David R. Peterson.
"This anonymous donation to the canine program is just another example that we are very fortunate to have people that care about maintaining the quality of services available to everyone," Peterson said. "The community is really rallying around Anuk. He sells the program because he's so personable."
Anuk has only been on the job a little over a year, but has already assisted in two jail extractions, successfully tracked burglary suspects, sniffed out drugs and drug paraphernalia several times, and found and returned safely a 2-year-old boy who wandered from his home. He is trained to apprehend people with a "bark and hold" rather than an attack and bite, if the people obey Deputy Zuehlke's commands.
It costs approximately $30,000 for the first year after acquiring a dog like Anuk. The money covers supplies, training (both dog and handler), squad car equipment, vet bills, etc. A tax deductible gift to acquire a second dog would be greatly appreciated.
If interested in helping, make your contribution along with your name and address (for a receipt for tax purposes) to: Crime Stoppers/K-9 Unit, 430 E. Division St., Wautoma, WI 54982.
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