Pennies for Puppies proves its value
Published 9:00 pm Friday, April 8, 2005
Since its inception, the Pennies for Puppies program has been able to purchase specially-bred and trained dogs for patrol deputies, a cadaver K-9 for the sheriff’s office search and rescue unit, and drug-detection dogs assigned to the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force. We have been able to expand to include the Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue Team whose members historically have provided their operational costs out-of-pocket. Because of this success, “Pennies” was recently asked to expand its charter to include the new Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol, hence “Pennies for Puppies and Ponies.”
In addition to the overwhelming generosity of our citizens and especially our students, PFPP wishes to take this opportunity to thank those businesses and organizations who have made us their on-going endeavors: Jones &Co. Pets, Bank of America in Marysville and Everett, Timothy O’Rourke, D.V.M., “The Encounters” band, Clear Image Studios, Marysville Printing, K and H Print Solutions, Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club, and The Herald. An anonymous donor contributed all the money toward the acquisition of two patrol K-9s. The list goes on and all would be mentioned, but for lack of space.
The value of K-9s to law enforcement cannot be underestimated. Their special senses enable our deputies to find dangerous felons who would otherwise go undetected. Volunteer SAR teams are able to find lost and injured people in our isolated and difficult terrain and disoriented people in our neighborhoods. Our SAR K-9 is able to locate bodies on land and in deep water that might go undetected for months. If the success of our drug-detection dog continues, Snohomish County will be the most unattractive place to smuggle, deal and use. With the advent of the mounted patrol, our parks will be safe places for children and families; should we be unfortunate enough to experience civil disobedience, the sheriff’s office will have enhanced crowd control capabilities with sheriff’s horses.
Sheriff Rick Bart’s acceptance of my idea of a K-9 unit for his office and our deputies’ willingness to participate in PFPP have resulted in establishing the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Operations Units among the best in the nation. None of this would have been achieved without your help and generosity.
CAROLE FLYNN WHITE
Founder and President
Pennies for Puppies and Ponies
