Kids, others rally behind Post Falls K-9

POST FALLS - Koda has started doing his part, taking a bite out of crime.

Now the community is being asked to support the Post Falls police dog's cause.

Ponderosa Elementary first-grader Harry Baker helped kick off fundraising efforts to buy a bullet-proof vest for the German shepherd K-9 by dropping off $137 at the police station on Tuesday from donation cans he made and placed at his school and Prairie View Elementary.

"I wanted to do it so the dog doesn't get shot," Harry said. "It's good for the dog."

Harry attended Koda's swearing-in ceremony at the City Council meeting in January with his mother, Ponderosa Principal Kathy Baker, as they watched fifth-grader Amanda Howard be honored for naming the dog.

He said he made the decision on his way home from the meeting to do his part with raising funds and started making posters.

The community is also starting to rally to not only buy the $2,000 vest, but ongoing expenses such as food, equipment and veterinary bills. Police hope the program can be self-sustaining through donations and fundraisers without having to tap into the city's general fund budget.

To date, expenses for the program, including the $9,500 cost for Koda himself, have been paid for with drug seizure funds.

While the first priority is to buy Koda a vest, the program will cost about $2,000 a year to sustain. The department also wants to start a reserve account to pay for another K-9 when 2-year-old Koda retires down the road.

Officer Brenda Smith, who is coordinating volunteers on fundraising efforts, said a 5K fun run is being planned for this spring in which people can bring their dogs.

"It could be an annual event," said Smith, adding that a date hasn't been set for the first run.

An account to make a tax-deductible donation to the K-9 program will be set up at Community 1st Bank within the next week. City residents also now have the option of making a donation with their monthly water bill or can make a donation at the police department.

"They would need to track their donations (with the water bill) because they do not come across on their account each month, so once the money is posted to the donation account, we can't give them an annual printout of donations," said Shelly Enderud, the city's finance director. "Maybe with the new software this may become a possibility, but not currently."

There will also be donation jars at area businesses for the program. T-shirts will be sold at community events such as Post Falls Days.

Civic organization such as Rotary and Kiwanis have already expressed an interest in helping out or have already.

Koda has already been deployed for action a few times, including on traffic stops and helping track a suspect who fled after a high-speed chase. He will be trained later this year to detect marijuana, meth and other drugs.

Businesses interested in having a donation jar or those wanting more information can call Smith at 773-3517 or e-mail bsmith@postfallspolice.com.

A Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Post-Falls-Police-K9 has been created to keep those interested updated and to seek "friends." Updates will also be posted at www.postfallspolice.com.