Sam's Club Helps Provide New Dog for K-9 Unit

Deputy Cliff Baltzer and new K-9, Eragon

Sam's Club of New Port Richey recently donated $5,000 to the Pasco Sheriff's Office for the purchase of a new dog for the K-9 Unit. Eragon is a German Shepherd, is 14 months old, and was purchased overseas. His new handler will be Dep. Cliff Baltzer. Dep. Baltzer has been with the Pasco Sheriff's Office nearly nine years. The average total cost for a new dog for the K9 Unit is around $7,500.

Dogs in the K-9 Unit are continually trained and are typically in the Unit until they are eight years old, at which time they retire to live with their deputy handler. Currently, there are nine dogs in the K-9 Unit and seven handlers. The nine dogs are comprised of seven German Shepherds, one Labrador Retriever and one Bloodhound. All nine dogs were partially purchased through donations. Other past donors including Sam's Club are the Pasco Kennel Club, Parwick Kennels of Land O'Lakes and the AARP.

The K-9 Unit is an instrumental tool in the fight against crime, performing duties such as tracking suspects, detecting explosives and identifying illegal drugs. The Pasco Sheriff's Office is grateful for the generosity of Sam's Club Good Works and their partnership in the fight against crime to keep Pasco safe.

Left to right: James Fargo - Sam's Club, Lt. Timothy Power, Col. Al Nienhuis, Dep. Cliff Baltzer, Eragon, Dep. Ryan Oakley and Sgt. Brian Brosnan.		Sgt. Brosnan explains to Sam's Club employees and patrons the importance of the K-9 Unit and the process of purchasing and training new dogs.