Contest raises money for three drug dogs
Support encouraged for maintenance
of Marion County's three working drug dogs
Animal Health Center of Marion County, 119 S. Coble, Marion, is sponsoring a "Top Dog Contest" to raise money for food and medicine for the three drug dogs in Marion County — Jag, Rico, and Atos.
Veterinarian Jessica Laurin invites the public to come into the clinic and vote for their favorite dog. Penny jars are available until June 20 for donations, each with a picture of the dog and its handler.
In addition, the annual Dog Wash will be held July 12 in the clinic's parking lot. All money raised from the contest and the dog wash will go for food and medicine for the three dogs.
Jag and her keeper, Jeff Soyez, work out of the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Jag has been with the department for two year. He is a Belgian Malanois.
Rico and his handler, Jessey Hiebert, have worked for one and one-half years through the Hillsboro Police Department. They collaborate closely with Jag and Soyez. Rico also is a Belgian Malanois.
Jag and Rico are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and often work together. Both have been trained in tracking, narcotics detection, and patrol work. They are involved in the DARE program and attend DARE graduations.
Atos with his handler, Roger Maag, works for state troopers. Atos is two and one-half years old and is a Belgian Malanois, raised in Holland. He is a certified explosive detection dog and can identify 14 explosive odors.
Atos also is a certified patrol dog used for building searches, officer protection, and evidence searches. He also is trained for fetch and retrieval or fetch and detainment of a suspect. He travels throughout the state and is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Animal Health Center provides needed veterinarian services for the three dogs at no charge. Food and medicine is provided at cost.
