(Juneau) The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office has a new K-9 and there is a special meaning behind the pup’s name. K-9 Cade and his handler, Deputy Matthew Mayer, begin a five-week training course in Iron Ridge Monday.
Cade will be trained in narcotics detection, article searches, tracking, and handler protection. Following their training, the pair will be assigned to second shift.
Cade is named after a 14-year-old boy who lost his life in a car accident in 2017. Sheriff Dale Schmidt said the boy became a true hero, donating his organs which saved the lives of four others. He says the family started a local fundraiser called Play 4 Cade to raise awareness for organ donation.
The group donated $15-thousand-dollars to the sheriff’s office K-9 program this past December. The sheriff says that generous donation was used to purchase and pay for training for their new K-9. Members of the sheriff’s office brought the new K-9 to meet with family members and loved ones of the Play 4 Cade Organization and asked permission to name the dog after Cade, which Schmidt says they accepted.
He adds that they are grateful to be able to honor Cade’s legacy through his name. The sheriff’s office K-9 program is fully donor funded.
–Photo courtesy of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page
