CHRISTIANSBURG, VA. – There are dogs in our area that are more than just household pets. They are the K-9s that serve and protect our community.
Whether these K-9s are searching for drugs, helping track down a suspect or patrolling the streets, they are essential in keeping you safe.
K-9 units from Radford, Christiansburg, Montgomery County and Blacksburg all participated in training on Monday that was focused on the skills they need to properly prepare them for their duties.
Christiansburg police Officer Heath Hyatt said the dogs spend every day with their handlers and that it is a full-time commitment.
“The dogs love to work,” said Hyatt. “They know as soon as they get into that vehicle that it’s time to work and play.”
The K-9s are paid with toys when they discover narcotics while training and working.
These dogs have sniffed out thousands of dollars’ worth of drugs and illegally obtained money in the community.
“Between our two dogs, they have uncovered at least $500,000 worth of money and narcotics together,” said Hyatt.
A K-9 for this role can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000, depending on its training status which means these dogs pay for themselves within the first few months of purchase.
Radford police Officer J.D. Miller, Max's K-9 handler, said the dogs are priceless.
“You can’t put monetary value on these dogs,” said Miller. “The best thing about them is that everyone loves the dog and they may not like this uniform or me so much, but they love him.”
Despite the dogs' contributions to the community and the police force, they do not have a permanent work home of their own. Handlers said they are in need of a place where they can focus on the skills needed to properly prepare the dogs for duty.
Currently, they have to find new areas to train for their regular sessions.
“It is a lot, getting our stuff to training then back to the house and our cars,” Hyatt said. “If we could get a training facility, that would be a blessing for us.”